Solo pole dive a first

LAC Marcus Fillinger prepares to dive into the icy depths at the North Pole.

LEADING Aircraftman Marcus Fillinger, of No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron, has become the first person to dive solo and unassisted at the geographic North Pole.

Using Russian ice base Borneo at 89º as his launching point, LAC Fillinger was airlifted to the polar region.

From there he dragged a pulk (Kevlar sled) with his gear weighing more than 110kg to a suitable dive site at the pole.

He described the dive, which he made on April 19, as “the world’s coldest”. It was so cold his weather gauge froze.

The expedition involved months of planning and training.

He will make a documentary featuring the dive and other spectacular images from the Arctic.

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