We report continuous observations in the high Arctic (north of 84°N) over the full 2013 summer season at two nearby sites with distinct initial snow depth, ice thickness and altitude with respect to the local ice topography. The two sites subject to similar atmospheric conditions that did not favor strong ice melt showed a contrasted evolution. One site, with an initial thin sea ice (1.40 m) at a low location of the floe, witnessed the formation of a spectacular 1.20 m-deep melt pond, a pond-enhanced erosion of the ice surface and a sudden pond drainage into the ocean. Then, the outpoured fresh water rapidly froze, heated the old ice from below and also acted as a temporary shield from the ocean heat flux while it was progressively ablated through dissolution. Eventually, the site almost recovered its initial ice thickness. In contrast, the other site, with an initial thicker sea ice (1.75 m) at a high location of the floe, did not support any significant melt water and underwent over 0.5 m of continuous basal ablation. The two sites witnessed formation of superimposed and interposed ice. Sea-ice survived summer melt at the two sites which entered the refreezing season with similar snow and ice thicknesses. For the first time, processes associated with the formation of a deep melt pond and subsequent false bottom evolution are continuously documented with ice mass balance instruments.