Award of Excellence
Paul Nicklen National Geographic Magazine
"Northern Exposure: Scientists exploring the Arctic's remote Canada Basin take a cold dip into the unknown"
A
diver braves the frigid -1.5 celsius cold, blue gloom as he scans the base of
a multiyear ice floe some eight feet thick-laced with channels housing myriad
life-forms. A safety line manned from above helps him stay oriented in strong
currents between the shifting ice masses and abyssal depths.