Inspiring Explorers' Expeditions™ | Page 2 of 10

Whales Ahoy

March 10, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

March 9

Another amazing morning in Antarctica. Today we found the whales!

The ship docked up in Charlotte’s Bay – a glassy harbour surrounded by looming white glaciers over black rock, and home to large arctic-blue icebergs. Some icebergs had deep holes or caves in them, and we saw carving inside of one of these cavities.

One Ocean Expeditions

We found the whales

A pod (if not pods) of humpback whales were breaching metres from our kayaks. A whale came up in front of me, mouth first, and I could make out the balaena and barnacles on its black coat. Some had a bright yellowy-orange colour on the underside of their tail which you could see as the tail came up and rolled into the ocean again.

In the afternoon, zodiacs carried some of us onshore to Portal Point. We saw a big Weddell seal lazing on the ice, fur seals playing around on the water and sliding on the ice, and a lone penguin looking for some friends. Overhead there were dozens of Antarctic shags flying above us.

We have arrived in perfect conditions to spend a night on the ice! After dinner we plan to kayak out to our own camping spot (for the Inspiring Explorers group), dig us some holes in the snow, and hunker down in bivouac sleeping bags for the night. We are all beaming about this rare opportunity.

Written by Inspiring Explorer Rosanna Price.

One Ocean Expeditions

Whale seen from kayaks

Discovering the Wonders of Antarctica

March 8, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

March 8

Yep, that’s an iceberg. Today we really discovered the wonders of the Antarctic!

We awoke to find ourselves sailing in front of the South Shetland Islands – huge, mountainous islands of ice, snow and dark rock. Wildlife dotted all along the shores.

Adeline Heymann/One Ocean Expeditions

Iceberg

Finally, we were able to put all our hard work from kayak training into practise. Plonking down the gangway, and then cruising along in a zodiac, we made our way out to the calm waters of Yankee Bay on Greenwich Island. Getting into a kayak from over the side of a zodiac is much easier than we’d imagined (with many hands to help). Seals and penguins watched us from the shore, as we paddled around the coast.

One Ocean Expeditions

Antarctic birdlife

It was such an amazing experience to be able to see Chinstrap and Gentu penguins, fur seals and Antarctic shags bobbing through the water, swimming alongside the kayaks and entertaining us all. Picture three juvenile seals wrestling with each other on top of an iceberg. One of the many, many highlights was kayaking through brash ice close to the shore.

One Ocean Expeditions

Weddell Seal

The glaciers are beautiful – just like paintings. The scale is hard to capture in photographs because they look so flat, but there is a vibrant arctic blue that glows through the ice.

In the afternoon we made it to Half Moon Island. The water was a bit more choppy, and we got the chance to thread through some rocks close to shore. Again, getting up close to wildlife and being absolutely in awe of the mountainous glaciers all around us. We exited the kayaks onshore (bar Alex, who had more photographing to do from the kayak) and walked around the island to get up close to the animals – including a Weddell seal and some elephant seals. We even came across a washed up whale jawbone.

What a day. We are thoroughly fed, as always, and ready for bed.

Written by Inspiring Explorer Rosanna Price.

AHT/Nigel Watson

Kayaking in Antarctica

Almost in Antarctica!

March 7, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

March 7

This morning Marco and I saw a whale for about two seconds – it was brown, with a curvy fin, and we’ve had a dozen guesses at what species it could be.

Antarctic Heritage Trust / Sylvie Admore

Perching chinstraps penguins.

The weather has taken a turn – the waves have become bigger, wilder, crashing over the bow and sending the boat into a pendulum-like motion. On the top deck we have to be extremely careful. The winds can knock you over if you don’t hold onto the rails.

We kitted up in our kayak gear today, in preparation for the adventure that awaits tomorrow. The prep consists of layering up our clothing, getting into a dry suit, pulling on a skirt which attaches to the kayak, securing our life-vest and practising entering the kayak. While all this was going on, it was snowing on the deck. Amazing.

There is a competition on at the moment where we guess the coordinates and day for spotting the first iceberg. No icebergs yet. Tomorrow it’s highly likely.

We’ve had a rundown of the sail plan, subject to change, but the first stop tomorrow is Aitcho Island part of the South Shetland Islands. Home to Chinstrap penguins, fur seals and hopefully an elephant seal or two. We’ll be up nice and early, hopefully in calmer waters, ready to paddle.

Written by Inspiring Explorer Rosanna Price.

Hitting the Drake Passage

March 6, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

MARCH 6

Most of us awoke in our beds to the swaying motion that indicated we had entered the Drake Passage. Notorious for its choppy seas and high swells, we are lucky enough to have only gentle rocking to prepare our sea legs with. Read more

Cast Off

March 5, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

5 March 2019

We have cast off on the Akademik Ioffe!

This morning we spent a few hours getting some fresh air by exploring Ushuaia, its hilly streets and bright murals. Feeling refuelled and ready to head South, we made our way to the Port where our docked One Ocean Expeditions vessel awaited – the Akademik Ioffe.

One Ocean Expeditions

The Akademik Ioffe

The 117 metre-long boat was built for scientific research and is designed to measure the transmission of sub-surface sound waves. We quickly unpacked our belongings, keen to explore our new home for the next 10 days, introducing ourselves to friendly staff and other passengers – and made for the view as we made an early cast-off.

There’s no better place to say goodbye to the glorious peaks of Ushuaia, than from the deck of a ship. Marco quickly sighted an albatross, and was able to capture the bird take flight.

One Ocean Expeditions

Albatross, Antarctic Peninsula

We are now gliding through the Beagle Channel. The mountains have become silhouettes on a darkening horizon. Waves are calm. Seasickness pills have been taken. Belongings have been secured. The forecast for the Drake Passage is looking ‘benign’, with winds no higher than 20 knots.

Boarding the ship has reinforced anticipation for our next stop – the Antarctic Peninsula.

Written by Inspiring Explorer Rosanna Price

The End of the World

March 3, 2019 - Inspiring Explorers'™ Updates - 2019

4 March 2019

We have touched down in Ushuaia, and everyone is in good spirits. I’m pleased to report that we made it without any serious injuries or lost baggage! In Buenos Aires we were treated to some seriously meaty cuisine and have had ample opportunity to practise our Spanish.

Antarctic Heritage Trust / Rosanna Price

Ushuaia

The flight into Tierra del Fuego and the southern-most city of the world Ushuaia, was a feast for the eyes, as we glided over the sharp peaks of mountains spotted with snow, rivers and crater lakes. The air is crisp, refreshing and not too cold, and the sun is beaming down.

We are all spending our down time preparing for the voyage ahead, excited to get on board the vessel tomorrow. A few of us have taken a stroll through the quaint town shops and along the waterfront.

Ushuaia is known as ‘El Fin Del Mundo’, ‘the end of the world’, as it’s the southern-most city in the world and departure point for Antarctic voyages.

Written by Inspiring Explorer Rosanna Price