Sea beneath Arctic and Antarctic ice is being studied by trained polar divers

A Finnish Scientific Diving Academy course in northern Finland trains scientists and experienced divers to work beneath Arctic and Antarctic ice to study seafloor life. The training responds to rapid polar change, with the Arctic reported as warming about four times faster than the global average.

Scientists and experienced divers are taking a specialized course to learn how to work under polar ice in order to study the seafloor. The Finnish Scientific Diving Academy runs the Polar Scientific Diving class at the University of Helsinki’s Kilpisjärvi Biological Station. The program combines underwater skills and scientific methods for work beneath Arctic and Antarctic ice. Organizers say the training responds to rapid environmental change in polar regions. Key facts: - The Polar Scientific Diving class began in 2024 and runs 10-day sessions on a frozen lake at Kilpisjärvi Biological Station. - Each session trains about a dozen experienced divers, and high demand has led organizers to add a second session per year. - Participants include marine and freshwater biologists, skilled recreational divers, and documentary filmmakers. - The Arctic is reported as warming roughly four times faster than the global average, and Antarctic ice loss is linked to sea level rise and changes to ocean ecosystems. - The course covers ice diving under about 80 centimeters of ice, topside safety procedures, and techniques aimed at collecting specimens while limiting habitat damage. Summary: The course aims to increase the number of scientists able to study life beneath polar ice as those regions change quickly. Organizers have expanded the program and emphasize the need for more trained personnel to carry out polar research and monitoring.