This summer, Niels Gins and three crew members set sail for Greenland aboard a 10-meter sailboat. A unique expedition to explore still-unknown seabeds, rich in fascinating biodiversity.
A Mysterious Sea
The sea, with its deep darkness, evokes molten lead, while the bluish icebergs create a striking contrast, giving these landscapes an almost supernatural atmosphere. It is in this setting that Niels Gins, a marine biologist, and his team chose to dive. Although explorations have already taken place in Greenlandic waters, the combination of sailing and scuba diving in this region is a first.
After several days of waiting, the team finally had the chance to benefit from a favorable weather window to reach Tasilaaq, on the East coast of Greenland. They had left La Rochelle more than a month earlier, aboard Moscatel, the sailboat supporting their mission. The crew consists of Céline Chevobbe, an emergency doctor; Thibault Dassieu, a diving instructor specialized in ice diving; Maxime Pature, a scientific diver; and Niels Gins, the skipper and diver behind this adventure.
A Project Born in the Kerguelen
Until February 2025, Niels Gins is in the Kerguelen as part of the PROTEKER mission, led by the TAAF (see Dive! No. 57). For nearly two years, he has nurtured the dream of exploring Greenland. “I have always been drawn to the poles, and Greenland has intrigued me for years,” he confides. Unable to find a mission to join, he decides to set off on his own with his 10-meter aluminum sailboat.
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This article, originally written by Isabelle Croizeau for our print edition, has been adapted for the web.
Photos: Niels Gins & Thibault Dassieu.