Wilhelmina Bay : An awe-inspiring introduction to the Antarctic Peninsula. Cracks even within an iceberg. Perhaps a sitting dog with bushy tail or resting head encrusted in the ice?
Point Wild, Elephant Island : In 1915, Shackleton’s boat was crushed by ice whilst approaching the landmass and the crew had to escape in two rowing boats. He had to leave the majority of his crew on Elephant Island whilst a small group rowed to South Georgia, the nearest inhabited island 800 miles away to get help. The Chilean navy rescued all those on Elephant Island after surviving 4 months of winter. Kneeling animal of your imagination.
Wilhelmina Bay : two unusual icebergs
Wilhelmina Bay : Mountain peaks
Drake Passage : It takes two days to cross and, reputedly, is the most dangerous sea in the world. There is no landmass on its latitudes to moderate the winds. It is estimated that over 20,000 sailors have lost their lives.
We encountered a force 10 storm, with winds up to 70 mph and waves of 10 metres.
The cemetery in Punta Arenas, the southernmost town in Chile is home to some of those who lost their lives in its storms.
Wilhelmina Bay : Reflections, with resting Leopard seal.
Whaler’s Bay, Deception Island : The bay sits atop an active caldera that last erupted in 1967 and 1969. Originally the site of a Norwegian whaling station from 1906 to 1931, it later became a British base station until it was abandoned in 1970 after the two eruptions.
The Akademik Sergey Vavilov : 30 year old Russian scientific research vessel, 6,500 tons, ice-strengthened, Premier Inn like accommodation for 92 passengers, 40 Russian crew and 20 Canadian expedition team.
Entrance to the Lemaire Channel : 11km long and blocked by ice, changing the itinerary of the trip on the second day.
Saunders Island, north-west Falkland Islands : The island has only 4 residents and colonies of Gentoo and King penguins. This is a Gentoo penguin.
Hannah Point, Livingston Island : Chinstrap penguins, the most common of the seven types of Antarctic penguin, with a population of around five million breeding pairs.
Danco Island : Gentoo penguin family. They are the most northerly of the Antarctic penguins.
Fournier Bay : Fast approaching humpback whale, who would dive and swim under our boat.
Saunders Island, Falkland Islands : King penguins.
Hannah Point, Livingston Island : male southern elephant seals are the world’s largest, weighing up to 4 tonnes and growing to 20 metres. An interloper challenges an alpha male, whilst subordinate males lie flat on the beach, during the moulting season.
Whaler’s Bay, Deception Island : fur seals are the smallest of the six Antarctic seals and their sparring was relatively playful to watch. All’s well that ends well?
