Embark on an adventure off the coast of La Réunion, where the vast blue of the Indian Ocean conceals a well-kept secret: Mont La Pérouse. Invisible from the surface, this underwater giant patiently awaits exploration.
A Forgotten Colossus
Imagine a mountain nearly 5,000 meters high, taller than Mont Blanc, rising from the abyssal depths. This is Mont La Pérouse, an ancient volcano whose tectonic power regrettably failed to pierce the surface. It falls short by a mere 60 meters to reach the sky.
Long ignored, only seasoned sailors perceived its presence through subtle changes in the water’s color, capricious currents, and an exceptionally rich marine fauna. Birds, fish, whales, and dolphins find refuge here.
The La Pérouse Expedition: A Scientific and Human Challenge
Until recently, Mont La Pérouse remained a mystery. A few sporadic surveys, like the MD32 campaign by Marion Dufresne in 1982 and a plankton study in 2016 by IRD, had merely scratched its potential. But no image or precise description of its fauna and flora existed.
In this context, the La Pérouse Expedition, led by Patrick and Sophie Durville (Galaxea) and the Vie Océane association, in partnership with the prefecture of La Réunion (DEAL), was launched in October 2019. The objective? To send divers to explore this reputedly inaccessible and dangerous site. Laurent Ballesta’s team, with its experience with the coelacanth, Antarctic dives, Fakarava sharks, and extended stays in deep waters, was ideal for this mission.
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