In celebration of National Oceans Month and the powerful ‘Ocean with David Attenborough’ documentary released in June, Expedition Micro Cruise pioneer Secret Atlas is shining a spotlight on the ‘most important place on Earth’ including never-before-seen ecosystems discovered under the Arctic sea.
Partnering with the non-profit initiative Yachts for Science since 2024, Secret Atlas has helped researchers conduct vital studies in remote marine environments by matching them with available yachts travelling through these areas. Equipped with new technology and underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), the team can spend a lot longer gathering research from these previously hard to reach places resulting in ground-breaking findings.
These first-of-its-kind micro cruises took place in the Arctic in July 2024 with scientist Dr. Paige Maroni and subsea engineer Tim Macdonald onboard, and the findings were astonishing. So much so they will be returning in July 2025 for a hugely ambitious four expedition campaign across Svalbard and Greenland. Here’s what they found:
- The range of species living under the sea was deeper than previously thought — including a nudibranch found at 93 metres depth, extending its known habitat by over 60 metres.
- They uncovered habitats ranging from coral walls and kelp forests to glacially exposed urchin barrens and sponge aggregations.
- Perhaps most notably, they found deep-sea species typically seen at 3000 metres depth — living just metres below the Arctic surface.
Research is more critical than ever with less than 20% of the ocean floor mapped, meaning biologically rich ecosystems are still undiscovered. Combining cutting-edge technology and the ability to visit these remote locations, scientists can carry out groundbreaking work on topics such as coral health, marine biodiversity, ocean mapping, and climate change.
“Our oceans are facing immense challenges, and by partnering with Yachts For Science we’re unlocking vital scientific access to areas typically beyond reach,” says Michele D’Agostino, Co-Founder of Secret Atlas. “We’re incredibly proud to run one of the industry’s lowest-impact expedition models, with a maximum of just 12 passengers on our Arctic vessels. This unique approach not only minimises our footprint but also offers our guests an unparalleled, enriching experience: the chance to witness critical marine research firsthand.”
For guests looking to join guest scientist Dr Paige Maroni on a Secret Atlas Expedition Micro Cruise to Greenland in 2025, there’s an opportunity on the Northeast Greenland National Park Micro Cruise.
