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“Some people are repelled by the darkness of an underwater cave, but for me it’s an invitation into the unknown,” says Suunto Ambassador Jill Heinerth. Heinerth is a pioneering underwater explorer and filmmaker, leading technical diver, and world expert in rebreather technology. Her love of the water began as a child and has persisted ever since. As a teen, Jill Heinerth was a volunteer swim instructor and lifeguard at her local swimming pool. Jacques Cousteau was her hero and by the age of 16 she was scuba diving. Now, after more than a 20-year career, the Canadian underwater explorer and award-winning filmmaker has crossed the globe, diving in what she calls ‘the veins of mother earth’. Jill has dived deeper into the planet than any woman in history and seen some extraordinary places. She’s dived caves underneath the remote Ural mountains of Siberia, tickled the bellies of manatees near the Gulf of Mexico and explored sacred desert springs in Africa. In 2000, she was involved in one of her most ambitious projects to date — to dive inside a giant iceberg. In 2014 she was awarded the inaugural Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. Jill is also a journalist and champion for women divers. She wrote a book called Women Underwater and in 2016 is part of a team of 10 women on an epic three-month journey, snorkeling more than 3000 km through frigid Arctic seas. “Some would suggest that exploration on this planet is done, but I disagree,” says Heinerth. “We know more about space than we do about our oceans and our underwater caves.” Her abiding love of the ocean and watery places has also transformed her into a strong advocate for water conservation and protection, via her We Are Water Project. This important cause aims to raise awareness about global water issues, and encourage people to do more to protect our fresh water resources. Jill cycled across Canada, raising awareness along the way. With the same goal in mind, she wrote a fun children’s book about an itchy manatee that has an important message about water pollution. Naturally, Suunto is the first choice of dive computer for Heinerth: “I’ve been using Suunto for a long time, and I think they represent the pinnacle of fine quality. The precise instruments and the ruggedness of the equipment have served me very well in some extreme diving expeditions over the years.” She adds: “The Suunto DX is the key support device that serves as a backup for my rebreather. It’s easy to integrate it into a CCR dive plan, or any plan for that matter – open circuit or closed circuit. It also contains a very accurate digital compass, which I use to survey and make maps of new exploration.” 

After eight months exploring Greenland, members of the Under the Pole team push their ice diving limits to new depths. The descent was five-minutes only, but the small hole dug in the ice 111 m above would demand a two hour return trip – in sub-zero waters. In the icy darkness 111 m below the surface and the rest of the Under the Pole team, Martin Mellet and Ghislain Bardout smiled at one another – they’d reached a difficult new “summit” together. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Like ambitious alpinists trying to reach the next peak, they are always tempted to descend to the next “summit” below them. Unlike alpinism, however, deep sea diving has no ultimate summit to reach. The deeper you dive, Martin says, the more complicated the dive becomes while at the same time not satisfying the craving for an ultimate end point. “This frustration is a powerful motivation for deep diving, but a dangerous one because you constantly need to control the urge to go further,” he says. Only two things would ensure their safe return; their trust and confidence in each other and the thin lifeline leading them back to the hole in the ice ceiling. “We get in the water through a small hole in the ice, and this opening is our only way out,” Martin wrote after the dive. “If we lose track of the life line that connects us to the hole, things can only end in tragedy.” © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole The visibility was poor when they began their descent, but their spirits were high. After eight months of hard work and diving together as part of the Under the Pole expedition, Martin and Ghislain had achieved a level of trust to make such a risky dive possible. On their descent to 90 m, they had dove along a steep, reassuring cliff face. After that, the cliff ended and the vast ocean expanded before them. “Everything was calm and quiet, intensely exhilarating,” Ghislain says. “We dive because we want that moment when the unimportant just fades away and everything we feel is suddenly amplified by our heightened senses.” © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole At 111 m they stopped and contemplated their surroundings and situation. Going further was unnecessary; they were already deep enough. “Being there, 111 m below the sea ice and icebergs, is a big deal – at that extreme depth, our lives were pending,” Ghislain says. “Like an alpinist who has reached his summit, we had just reached ours and it was time to ascend.” To avoid decompression, the return trip took two hours, with 1h 30 spent at 12 m and above. But this meant they could take their time on the way up and better enjoy the dark shapes of the huge icebergs above them. “After a little more than two hours, we emerged from the hole one after the other and entered a different world where the team welcomed us with satisfying smiles, cake and hot tea,” Ghislain says. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole

Software update brings gas time, CCR mode, real-time gas consumption and compass bearing lock. Suunto EON Steel grows with you as your diving skills evolve, thanks to its customizability and durability. As communicated with its launch last fall, you can update the EON Steel software yourself. The update now coming out brings much sought after new features. Gas time The new gas time reading allows you to estimate how long you can continue diving, taking into account your current tank pressure value and breathing rate. Rebreather mode Closed-circuit rebreather (CCR) mode makes Suunto EON Steel a great backup dive computer on rebreather dives. Combined with the Suunto Fused™ RGBM, the CCR features give you extra confidence on your rebreather dives. Gas consumption A first for dive computers, Suunto EON Steel calculates real-time gas consumption. As you improve your diving skills, you’ll see your comfort level reflected in the rate: the more relaxed you are, the less gas you consume. Compass bearing lock The new compass bearing lock helps you orientate yourself underwater and ensure you maintain your direction of travel. For example, you can set a bearing lock for the direction to the reef before leaving the boat. You can download the free update to your EON Steel through the Suunto DM5 software. Check out more details about the Suunto EON Steel software update 1.1.  

It is time for the fourth episode of #SuuntoAdventure Video Series. Relax and get ready to dive deep with freediver William Trubridge! William Trubridge is a world-renowned freediver who has a natural affinity with the depths. In 2010 he became the first person to break the 100m barrier completely unassisted and has broken several records after that as well.  Watch the other episodes in the series: Face to Face with Emelie Forsberg – #SuuntoAdventure Video Series, Episode 1 Face to Face with Greg Hill – #SuuntoAdventure Video Series, Episode 2 Face to Face with Kilian Jornet – #SuuntoAdventure Video Series, Episode 3 Face to Face with Conrad Stoltz – #SuuntoAdventure Video Series, Episode 5

“The appeal of freediving is how different it is to any other sport. The fact we’re completely immersed in liquid; a single breath, the weightlessness, the absence of sounds, the dullness of the colors... everything is subtracted,” says freediver William Trubridge. "It’s a completely different experience to life in the air element. When I'm diving it feels like I'm being accepted into the ocean." Trubridge, 35, is a multiple record-breaking freediver who has a natural affinity with the depths of the ocean. He is the first person to dive to 100 m without assistance. The ocean and its depths are as much William Trubridge’s home as his life on land. Born in Britain, the first few years of his life were a nomadic existence sailing around the world on his parents' yacht before the family settled in New Zealand. He learnt to swim at the age of 18 months, and was freediving to 15 m by the age of eight, competing with his older brother to see who could bring back a stone from the deepest depth. But it was not until he was 22 that he discovered freediving was a sport. Since then, Trubridge has broken numerous freediving records, including in 2010 becoming the first person to break the hectometer; diving to 100 m without assistance. His immersion in the aquatic world has made protecting the ocean a lifelong passion for Trubridge. In 2015, he launched the Plastic Challenge, a global campaign to raise awareness about the problem of seaborne plastic pollution. The campaign motivated people all over the world to clean up their local beaches and waterways. Trubridge is also a vocal ambassador of a NABU International campaign to save the critically endangered Maui and Hector dolphins. For much of the year he is based in the Bahamas, where he trains at Dean's Blue Hole, It is also the location of Suunto Vertical Blue, one of the largest freediving events in the world, which Trubridge organizes. Although considered the world's best 'no-fins' freediver, Trubridge is also a multiple record holder in 'Free Immersion', where divers descend pulling on a rope. In 2011 and 2012 he received the World's Absolute Freediving Award (WAFA), which ranked him as the world's top freediver.  RECORDS: Constant Weight No Fins (CNF): 101m Free Immersion (FIM): 121mCheck more at www.aidainternational.org/competitive/worlds-records  Watch Face to Face with Will Trubridge, #SuuntoAdventure Video Series Episode 4

It was a unique coming together of western explorers, locals and traditional hunter-fishermen. Four members of the Under the Pole expedition team, five young Inuit from the Uummannaq Children’s Home and two accompanying teachers were guided by Inuit hunter-fishermen on a 600 km dogsled adventure beyond Greenland's northern most territories. First ice camp. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole They learned how to manage a dogsled pack, how to go fishing on the ice to catch a feed for the pack, how to create a warm tent with reindeer skins and even a Greenlandic card game or two. The team, in return, guided the Inuit on their first ever dives beneath the ice. Ghislain Bardout guiding teenager Nukaaraq under a glass ceiling. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Poor weather and a lack of snow this winter, however, nearly scuttled this last stage of the expedition. Exposed surface ice is abrasive to the dogs’ legs. Too little snow also means a lack of an easy water source. Fortunately conditions improved and the party set off north into the magical landscape between mountains and ocean. They traveled by dogsled for eight days, sleeping in hunting cabins or in tents on the ice, learning about traditional Inuit ways. 12-year-old Miannguac sitting by a fishing hole to catch dinner for the dogs. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Whenever possible, the team encouraged the hunters and young people to dive. “I was really impressed by their ability to adapt to the situation,” says Ghislain Bardout. “The way they moved under the sea ice despite the fact some of them can barely swim. “After several dives, the most adventurous moved 10 m away from the hole and enjoyed observing the sea bed, fish and ice ceiling. “Our objective was achieved; the young people became explorers of their own environment.” All the young sub ice explorers and divers received certificates. © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole Main photo: © Lucas Santucci/Under the Pole