Mario Placidi Spring

Mario is an experienced Historian, Naturalist, Firearms Master and Expedition Leader, who has worked in the polar regions for almost a decade. He attributes his passion for adventure and the natural world to his father, who introduced him to skiing and mountaineering at an early age. Setting his sights sky high, he decided to study Aerospace Engineering, but after graduating his need for adventure and exploration inspired him to take a different path. In 2014, he moved to Longyearbyen in Svalbard to become an Arctic Nature Guide. After attaining his qualification, he guided ski expeditions in the Norwegian archipelago before discovering expedition cruising in 2015. Since then, he has shared his time between the Arctic and Antarctica.

Mario is fully devoted to the best and safest outcome for expeditioners, and relishes seeing them realise their dreams. On expeditions, he encourages everyone to be open to whatever these incredible places offer, and to embrace the fact that not everything is under our control and should be experienced as an adventure, just like the early explorers did.

Mario's favourite destinations include Svalbard for its incredible wildlife, and Greenland for its incredible views, huge mountains and majestic fjords.