Welcome aboard the WHY,
the Under the Pole boat!
Imagine yourself in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. The thermometer reads -40°C and you are about to dive 200 m deep into icy water. Once back on the surface, you will have to remove your equipment despite the cold and fatigue. Your only refuge? A 19-metre sailboat where the temperature barely exceeds 0°C. Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout and Ghislain Bardout, founders of Under The Pole, have experienced this type of adventure and can talk about it for hours. Peugeot Magazine went to meet the team of Under The Pole, an underwater exploration programme that combines scientific research, innovation and awareness, in the service of better knowledge and preservation of the oceans, whose actions Peugeot supports. Story.
Welcome aboard the WHY,
the Under the Pole boat!
Imagine yourself in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. The thermometer reads -40°C and you are about to dive 200 m deep into icy water. Once back on the surface, you will have to remove your equipment despite the cold and fatigue. Your only refuge? A 19-metre sailboat where the temperature barely exceeds 0°C. Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout and Ghislain Bardout, founders of Under The Pole, have experienced this type of adventure and can talk about it for hours. Peugeot Magazine went to meet the team of Under The Pole, an underwater exploration programme that combines scientific research, innovation and awareness, in the service of better knowledge and preservation of the oceans, whose actions Peugeot supports. Story.
IMMERSION IN THE DEPTHS
You don’t meet real explorers every day. Even less so when they dive to a depth of 200 m. Peugeot Magazine had the chance to spend a day aboard the Why, the Under The Pole expeditions’ sailboat, whose moorings were tied to the Port of La Ciotat on the shores of the Mediterranean. The objective of their mission on the Côte d’Azur? Collect scientific data offshore, on a very specific spot: that of a marine animal forest.
IMMERSION IN THE DEPTHS
You don’t meet real explorers every day. Even less so when they dive to a depth of 200 m. Peugeot Magazine had the chance to spend a day aboard the Why, the Under The Pole expeditions’ sailboat, whose moorings were tied to the Port of La Ciotat on the shores of the Mediterranean. The objective of their mission on the Côte d’Azur? Collect scientific data offshore, on a very specific spot: that of a marine animal forest.
You have never heard of this term? However, marine animal forests are one of the marine ecosystems with exceptional biodiversity, among the richest and most diverse on the planet. They form complex habitats, of large extension, with a similar functioning to terrestrial forests, with the main difference that they are dominated by animals (corals, gorgonians, sponges, etc.) and not plants. Less accessible than corals on the surface, they are little studied. Under The Pole pushes the limits of science, thanks to deep diving with rebreathers, which allow us to observe these marine animal forests in the depths.
You have never heard of this term? However, marine animal forests are one of the marine ecosystems with exceptional biodiversity, among the richest and most diverse on the planet. They form complex habitats, of large extension, with a similar functioning to terrestrial forests, with the main difference that they are dominated by animals (corals, gorgonians, sponges, etc.) and not plants. Less accessible than corals on the surface, they are little studied. Under The Pole pushes the limits of science, thanks to deep diving with rebreathers, which allow us to observe these marine animal forests in the depths.
PEUGEOT, OFFICIAL EDUCATION PARTNER
Due to bad seas, we will stay at the quayside for the day. However, sharing a meal, cooked by chef Eliott, with the whole team in the Why's main room is enough to soak up the atmosphere of an expedition. Living with a dozen people (or more) in such a small space is not something you can improvise, especially with tons of equipment on board. No matter where you are on the boat, you are on the trajectory of a teammate. A lunch with several people is therefore a real ballet where everything is optimized, and where everyone takes turns doing the dishes.
PEUGEOT, OFFICIAL EDUCATION PARTNER
Due to bad seas, we will stay at the quayside for the day. However, sharing a meal, cooked by chef Eliott, with the whole team in the Why's main room is enough to soak up the atmosphere of an expedition. Living with a dozen people (or more) in such a small space is not something you can improvise, especially with tons of equipment on board. No matter where you are on the boat, you are on the trajectory of a teammate. A lunch with several people is therefore a real ballet where everything is optimized, and where everyone takes turns doing the dishes.
Being on the boat with the crew is a unique experience, with exceptional people, who are all in the exchange and with a message to convey. This is why a team from the association has the mission of raising awareness among schoolchildren about the preservation of the oceans. This is done all over Europe thanks to the educational caravan Under The Pole, towed by a PEUGEOT Boxer. This device brings the oceans into classrooms and to the general public far from the ocean environment at events open to all, such as the Paris Motor Show. It is in this sense that PEUGEOT is an official education partner.
In addition to the education section, how does PEUGEOT help the association in its missions? In particular by providing a second Boxer, used to transport the tons of diving equipment that allows the teams to study marine animal forests. In addition, three electric vehicles, E-208 and E-308 SW, allow Emmanuelle, Ghislain and their teams to make their daily trips while limiting their impact on the environment. PEUGEOT is proud to be a partner of Under The Pole and wishes the entire crew good luck!
Being on the boat with the crew is a unique experience, with exceptional people, who are all in the exchange and with a message to convey. This is why a team from the association has the mission of raising awareness among schoolchildren about the preservation of the oceans. This is done all over Europe thanks to the educational caravan Under The Pole, towed by a PEUGEOT Boxer. This device brings the oceans into classrooms and to the general public far from the ocean environment at events open to all, such as the Paris Motor Show. It is in this sense that PEUGEOT is an official education partner.
In addition to the education section, how does PEUGEOT help the association in its missions? In particular by providing a second Boxer, used to transport the tons of diving equipment that allows the teams to study marine animal forests. In addition, three electric vehicles, E-208 and E-308 SW, allow Emmanuelle, Ghislain and their teams to make their daily trips while limiting their impact on the environment. PEUGEOT is proud to be a partner of Under The Pole and wishes the entire crew good luck!
MOTS-CLÉS:
Peugeot & Moi,
Mobilité & Écoresponsabilité