The pioneer of the modern diving watch presents fresh perspectives on marine biodiversity.
160 kilometres southwest of Reunion Island, just a few dozen metres beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean, lies the peak of an underwater volcanic structure known as Mont La Pérouse. The base of this enigmatic geological formation lies 5000 meters below sea level, with a size comparable to that of Mont Blanc – the highest mountain in the Alps.
Mont La Pérouse was an island before being completely submerged – a natural habitat that housed many animals, including endangered species, during migration, providing food and shelter. Now home to diverse and exceptional fauna and flora, along with many unique organisms developed here, it is crucial to the balance of the ocean ecosystem.
Blancpain, pioneer in the manufacture of the first modern diving watch, the Fifty Fathoms, unveils the secrets of this massive seamount and its important role in the marine ecosystem, with the release of a new documentary “The Mysteries of Mont La Pérouse”. French biologist and underwater photographer Laurent Ballesta leads the way in this deep dive into the extraordinary biodiversity of this monumental site, a great first for oceanographers.
Permanent currents and strong winds characterise this site in the open seas, culminating in complex diving conditions under which Ballesta, together with his Gombessa diving team and local researchers had to navigate in order to conduct the study in depth. Further techniques such as observation and photographic inventory, biological and geological sampling, and the use of cameras and sonars were employed in this challenging expedition.
The results were visually stunning and gave an insight to the ecology of the underwater seamount. In addition to the documentary, a series of rare, impressive images will be shown in exhibitions, and to illustrate an amalgamation of the study, as well as a scientific publication. Conducted with the support of Blancpain, founding partner of the Gombessa expeditions and many other oceanographic missions of Ballesta’s, the aim is to raise awareness of the importance of seamounts to marine biodiversity and ecosystems, and emphasise the need to preserve them.
For more than 60 years, Blancpain has been dedicated to its mission in raising public awareness and concern about the ocean through exploration, operating on the belief that people can only respect and protect what they love, and that love can only stem from what they know. This latest spotlight on Mont La Pérouse is an extension of this mission to bring fresh perspectives on ocean preservation.
Watch the documentary “The Mysteries of Mont La Pérouse” online via the French, German, Spanish and Italian pages of ARTE.tv, from now till 12 April 2021.
Images courtesy of Blancpain, artwork by Curatedition. All rights reserved.
Related Links:
Blancpain x Oceana’s Commitment to the Ocean
Blancpain Bathyscaphe: From The Desert To The Deep
Blancpain: The Fifty Fathoms Ocean Commitment III
