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Decoding the Ocean | Meet the Scientists Unlocking Arctic Secrets

Imagine diving beneath the Arctic’s icy surface to discover ecosystems few humans have ever seen. 

That’s exactly what Dr. Paige Maroni and subsea engineer Tim Macdonald are doing aboard Secret Atlas expedition vessels—bringing the future of marine science to some of the most remote corners of the planet.

It’s bold, it’s urgent, and it’s happening now.

Backed by cutting-edge tech and a shared passion for conservation, this dynamic duo is on a mission to illuminate the hidden biodiversity of the polar regions. Their project, ‘Polar BLAST’, is helping to fill major scientific knowledge gaps, support future conservation efforts, and give our expedition guests a front-row seat to real-time, meaningful research.

Let’s dive in.

Their project: Polar BLAST

In partnership with Secret Atlas and Yachts for Science, Polar BLAST (Baseline, Life, and Structure of the Arctic) is a research initiative designed to map Arctic biodiversity and assess ecosystem health using non-invasive tools like ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) and BRUVS (Baited Remote Underwater Video Systems).

The mission is straightforward: shine a spotlight on what lies beneath the Arctic’s rapidly warming seas, before it’s too late.

Here’s why the work is so pressing:

• The Arctic is alarmingly understudied. Despite all the talk of melting ice caps and vanishing species, we still know shockingly little about the seafloor and midwater ecosystems of the high north.

• Climate change is hitting the Arctic harder than anywhere else. It’s warming nearly four times faster than the global average.

• Human activity is encroaching fast. Commercial fishing (and some not-so-legal operations) are increasingly targeting these sensitive ecosystems—often before we even know what’s down there.

Their findings were nothing short of astonishing. 

• Species range extensions were documented—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.

And it wasn’t just the scientists who were wide-eyed. Guests on board were captivated. One person heading for Graduate School was inspired to pursue a career in conservation.

A new model: science and tourism, together

Secret Atlas Expedition Micro Cruises are small, purpose-driven journeys through pristine polar environments. Inviting researchers like Paige and Tim aboard adds more than just scientific credibility—it brings guests into the heart of the mission.

This isn’t passive tourism. It’s a front-row seat to environmental action.

And it works both ways. For the scientists, the support from Secret Atlas allows for meaningful fieldwork in otherwise inaccessible environments. For guests, it’s a rare opportunity to learn directly from the people doing the research—lectures, live updates from ROV dives, and real-time conservation storytelling.

What's next: the 2025 research season

Building on the success of their 2024 pilot, Paige and Tim will return in 2025 for an ambitious four-expedition campaign across Svalbard and Greenland.

Here’s what they’ll be doing:

• Daily ROV dives to survey benthic (seafloor) habitats and create 2D and 3D photogrammetry reconstructions.

• Deploying BRUVS to study pelagic (midwater) species like amphipods, pteropods, and ctenophores.

• Mapping Vulnerable Marine Ecosystem (VME) indicator species to inform future conservation management.

• Validating Species Distribution Models with high-resolution, in situ observations.

• Creating powerful visual outreach content that makes polar science digestible for a global audience.

Their ultimate goal? To piece together how these ecosystems function, how species are distributed, and what role Arctic fjords and mesophotic zones (twilight-depth areas) play in global biodiversity.

What this partnership means for Secret Atlas

At Secret Atlas, we’ve never just been about the scenery. We’re about stewardship. We believe travel in wild places should leave a legacy—one of knowledge, conservation, and connection.

By partnering with Yachts for Science and scientists like Paige and Tim, we’re putting action before lip service. We’re making our vessels platforms for scientific discovery. We’re showing that expedition travel can be an engine for good.

So when you join a Secret Atlas micro cruise, you’re not just ticking off polar bears and glaciers. You’re helping to build a better understanding of our planet—one dive, one discovery at a time.

Final word: from the surface to the seafloor

Dr. Paige Maroni and Tim Macdonald are helping the world see what’s never been seen before—quietly, diligently, and passionately documenting life in places most people will never go.

In the face of climate change, pollution, and accelerating human impact, that kind of work isn’t just interesting.

It’s essential.

We’re just beginning to decode the ocean—and it starts with people like Paige and Tim, and partners like Secret Atlas who believe in giving science a seat at the table.

Want to learn more?

Check out the feature from BOAT International on Paige’s first Arctic expedition aboard Secret Atlas:

• Yachts for Science: Secret Atlas & Svalbard