The Antarctic expedition for the two divers of the Diving Operations Group, to support the international team of researchers who are working on studying one of the most inhospitable environments in the world, working at average temperatures between 0 ° C and -35 ° C.
Diving plays a fundamental role in research, coordinated by ENEA. After making a hole in the pack, divers stay underwater for 20 to 50 minutes. To counteract the water temperature, which is around -2 ° C, they use dry suits, full fleece suits under the wetsuit and full face masks, excellent for isolating the face from cold water.
The extreme environment makes these operations very demanding, but the effort is rewarded by the wonderful natural scenery that presents itself to the eyes of the COMSUBIN operators: "Take a look around - says first-class head Tommaso Pischedda - visibility is exceptional, you raise your head and see the pack, from the opposite side to the one everyone knows, it looks like a stormy sky, full of dark colors: black, brown and yellow. "
Just out of the water, the two divers fight the cold with a ten-minute hot shower, heavy clothes and hot tea.
The XXXI Summer Antarctic Campaign at the Mario Zucchelli Station in Terra Nova Bay will last a total of four months and will take place during the Antarctic summer period, characterized by being always day.
The base is born as a summer garrison, when temperatures are milder (even 4 ° C), while in winter the temperatures drop dramatically, from -30 ° C to -50 ° C and beyond.
