Our chance to stand not just on an island of Antarctica but on the solid rock of the continent. We are moored in Orne Harbor where there is a landing on the peninsula, part of the main landmass of Antarctica.
A very cool plus is the colony of chinstrap penguins, with a few Gentoo cousins and some Shags thrown in for good measure
The penguins swam around us, eating krill at the surface we and a few of them porposed, Swimming quickly, jumping in and out of the water
A special Polaris site, a small Rocky island off Weincke Island, where there is a young colony of Gentoo penguins, established about 2014. Polaris was first to establish a landing site there in 2022!
We also saw some area birds
Icebergs on a Special ops boat ride, very fast, maneuverable crafts, Designed in Finland and used by many counties’ special forces! 900 HP Swedish engines propel water jets to make these fast and agile! Each has an officer piloting and an expedition member / naturalist on board to talk about all we see!
And we got to see a leopard seal, sunning himself after lunch, and a juvenile female elephant seal on the beach
It is a stunning sunny Beautiful Antarctic day! We had an early zodiac landing to see multiple Gentoo penguin clusters on this colony on Damoy point. Then a hopped on a SOB, the special operations boats, built by a company called Boumeranger. They are similar to the Finnish navy SOBs. Here are some of the spectacular scenery
We arrived January 1 to beautiful calm seas and cruised between Anvers Island and Brabant Island, cruising into Chiriguano Bay a little after noon. We had wonderful animal sightings, chinstrap and gentle penguins, a couple humpback whales and some even saw an Antarctic fur seal!
In this area, there was no satellite connection for the ship’s internet, and of course no cell service so our photos are a day late, but before we leave our location today, Jan 2, I will post today’s excursions too
Our first view of the stunning scenery
Celebrating in polar waters!
News Year’s day brunch
Celebrating in polar waters!
Capt Maggie is flying across the Drake, a rather smooth ride, all 4 engines full speed ahead, making up time.
Today was open house in the Hanger area. The lab over looks the Hanger.
The Polaris carries the yellow submarines, Ringo and George
