The Real North Pole Expedition

October 21, 2006 7:24 AM

The Real North Pole Expedition is a journey to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean, to the actual North Pole, using research submarines, tentatively scheduled for the summer of 2008. Spots are still available. And if that doesn’t interest you, they have other expeditions that might.
posted by jason's_planet (9 comments total)

"The submersibles lack traditional toilet facilities, but a special pre-dive diet will help keep you comfortable during your dive."

Translation: they starve you for a week first so you won't inadvertantly spraypaint the interior of the submersible with liquid feces when you reach 15,000 feet and suddenly realize that the unimaginable icy weight of the entire Arctic Ocean is crushing your tiny soul.
posted by naomi at 8:02 AM on October 21, 2006

From the Who Can Dive? section:

Dives are approximately 10-12 hours in duration, the submersibles are small and the following medical conditions may prevent you from participating in diving...

--Conditions associated with urinary or bowel incontinence or leakage and flatulence

Um, yeah.
posted by GrammarMoses at 8:33 AM on October 21, 2006

I don't see a signup fee anywhere on the literature, so should I assume it's at least $1 million?
posted by chef_boyardee at 8:59 AM on October 21, 2006

Is that the real real North Pole?
posted by thirteenkiller at 9:51 AM on October 21, 2006

The "Real" North Pole?

Applying that logic mankind has not reached the "Real South Pole" either. Not until we drill through around a thousand metres or so of frozen water.

I think most humans think of "the earth" as the bottom of the atmosphere, where we humans can move around without breathing aids. And features on the earth like latitudes and longitudes (hence the poles) are imaginary, not "Real".

Unfortunately this marketing crap dilutes any real research being performed. The ocean basins are truly unknown and mysterious, worth far more attention than we give it. It seems every time we send a vehicle down there we learn more things that turn everything upside down. (Like the "black smokers" -- the first bio environment we found not driven by solar energy.) There's no need for this "Real North Pole" bullshit.
posted by phliar at 11:42 AM on October 21, 2006

The ocean basins are truly unknown and mysterious, worth far more attention than we give it.

I couldn't agree with you more.

Unfortunately this marketing crap dilutes any real research being performed.

I don't understand your sour outlook. How can this detract from real research? Is scientific knowledge a zero-sum game? If anything, I think that introducing this amazing world to non-specialists could possibly create a political and cultural environment more open to increased funding for scientific research.

There's no need for this "Real North Pole" bullshit.

Who are you to decide what there's a need for? And what if people just want to go? If they have the resources and the equipment, who are we to stand in their way?
posted by jason's_planet at 12:38 PM on October 21, 2006

Who are you to decide what there's a need for? And what if people just want to go? If they have the resources and the equipment, who are we to stand in their way?

I don't think he's saying they shouldn't go. I think he's saying there's no need to market it as the "real" North Pole, because it would be interesting enough without that, and it's kinda misleading. And stuff. And lame.
posted by thirteenkiller at 3:45 PM on October 21, 2006

I don't see a signup fee anywhere on the literature, so should I assume it's at least $1 million?


Prices & What's Included

Cost For Divers:
The anticipated cost of this expedition will be $80,000USD for dive plus approx for cruise fare $15,000USD.

Cost For Non-Divers:

Cruise fare from approx $10,000USD
posted by jason's_planet at 3:58 PM on October 21, 2006

This is so retarded. I'm sorry. The "real pole," whether they mean magnetic, geographic or the axis of rotation, is a vector. It is not a single point. THIS IS A SCAM.
posted by thirteenkiller at 7:01 PM on October 21, 2006 [1 favorite]