Check out this water fording video

[cico7]

My guess is that the tall pole that never went under the water was t he intake.

I didnt see A pole sticking out of the water. Where?

[NeilSmith]

The intake and exhaust are right there in front of the A-pillar on the right side. The intake is really tall, looks like a flagpole. The exhaust is shorter and actually becomes submerged in the deep part.