Exploring the Frozen Depths
In Kilpisjärvi, Finland, diver Daan Jacobs just broke through a thick layer of ice. He had just come back from diving 8 meters under the surface, where light trickled through and fish swam peacefully. Few people experience this icy world, especially in winter when temperatures can plummet to -40 degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit.
Jacobs, a biodiversity adviser from the Netherlands, is part of a special program called Polar Scientific Diving. This program aims to train future scientists to dive beneath the Arctic and Antarctic ice. “The view is beautiful,” he said after his dive, catching his breath.
The Arctic is warming at an alarming rate—four times faster than the rest of the planet. This warming affects global weather and threatens animals like polar bears, who rely on sea ice to hunt. While the Arctic faces severe changes, Antarctica is also suffering from melting ice sheets, leading to rising sea levels and unstable ocean ecosystems.
Why Human Divers Matter
To truly understand these changes, scientists need to study life beneath the ice. However, this research requires special diving skills that only a few hundred people worldwide possess. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy aims to train more divers and highlight the urgent need for research. Marine biologist Erik Wurz stressed the importance of urgency: “We need more science to understand what happens as the ice melts.”
While technology such as robots and submersibles is improving, human divers still play a critical role. British Antarctic Survey marine biologist Simon Morley pointed out that divers can collect multiple samples without harming the ecosystem, something machines can’t replicate.
Training in Tough Conditions
These diving classes last ten days, held on a frozen lake at the University of Helsinki’s Kilpisjärvi Biological Station. The program started in 2024 due to high demand, and they’ve added a second session each year.
Students come from various backgrounds—marine biologists, skilled divers, and filmmakers. Ruari Buijs, a marine biology student from England, hopes this training will help him work in Antarctica. “I thought this would be a very good stepping stone,” he said.
Caroline Chen, a scientific diver from Germany, is thrilled about the chance to dive in polar regions. She believes this experience will enhance her future research in such extreme conditions.
The students must brave harsh weather and learn safety techniques. In case of emergency, they train to help each other surface safely.
Once underwater, divers describe an extraordinary experience. During a recent dive, Chen encountered fish and marveled at sunlight filtering through the ice. “It looks insane from the bottom up,” she noted.
The Physical Challenge
While divers wear protective gear, parts of their faces still feel the cold. Buijs joked about the challenges, saying, “The worst thing is your lips feel very numb afterward. You kind of get Botox lips a little bit.”
This program is more than just a diving class; it’s a necessary step to better understand and protect these fragile ecosystems before it’s too late.
To learn more about the effects of climate change in the Arctic, read this report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Stefanie Dazio reported from Berlin.
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