Whaler’s Bay (Deception Island) and Half Moon Island, 12/26/2023, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
The last full day of our expedition brought us to the surreal Whaler’s Bay at Deception Island. The only way to access this historical site is through the narrow Neptune’s Bellows, which brought us into a caldera volcano that is still active. It last erupted in 1970.
In the afternoon, we arrived at Half Moon Island, where a colony of chinstrap penguins welcomed us as we hiked to an Argentine research station.
Amy Brummit has spent several seasons supporting science in Antarctica at all three United States research bases - McMurdo Station, Palmer Station and the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. These experiences include “wintering” at McMurdo Station whe...
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After 36 hours crossing the infamous Drake Passage, the sight of land this morning brought a wave of excitement and maybe relief for some. The South Shetland Islands appeared on the horizon, promising our first steps into the wonders of Antarctica. Our morning landing at Barrientos Island was unforgettable. Chinstrap and gentoo penguins surrounded us, their curious waddles and lively calls filling the crisp air. The adventure continued back on the ship with Photo Instructor Fiona who presented a dynamic smartphone photography workshop. In the afternoon, Eric Guth’s fascinating lecture on the life history of snowflakes made us marvel at the intricate beauty and importance of ice, while Maya Santangelo’s presentation, The Secret Life of Krill, underscored the delicate balance of this extraordinary ecosystem. In-between the presentations we all found ourselves captivated by the giant icebergs as we made our way through the Antarctic sound. The day culminated in a breathtaking evening Zodiac cruise as the sun began to set, followed by a short landing at Brown Bluff. As we stood on the Antarctic mainland for the first time, we were greeted by our third penguin species of the day the curious Adelie.
In the early morning hours, we heard the tell-tale sounds of the ship moving through ice as we made our way into Charlotte Bay. Our captain expertly navigated the ship and parked it in the fast ice! We had the glorious morning experience of being able to exit the ship using the gangway and walking onto solid frozen sea! Some chose to explore by foot, others with snowshoes, and the expert group went out cross country skiing on the fast ice. After lunch we sailed into Recess Cove, where we had the most glorious views and sunshine! We were able to get out in the Zodiacs for a cruise or kayak through the brash ice and photograph penguins to our delight. After our boating ops, nearly half the ship bravely (or foolishly) jumped into the frigid waters during our polar plunge! After dinner we had a wonderful encounter with a humpback whale in the fading evening light. A delightful day in Antarctica was had by all.
A day at sea, down to the Antarctic, is about spending time with ocean wanderers, waves, and getting to know everyone aboard. This crossing, I thought it would be nice to introduce you to Marvin Moro, chief waiter aboard National Geographic Endurance . Marvin is from the Philippines and spends 75% of his life at sea. He started with the company in 2016 on National Geographic Orion as a utility hand and has continued to move up the hawse pipe to his aforementioned role. In addition to overseeing the wait staff, he is also the crew welfare chairman, helping to organize onboard activities - anything from facilitating holiday gatherings to maintaining crew morale during long deadheads at sea through game nights and karaoke sessions! This is a very important job, since all his colleagues also spend as much time away from their families as he does. Thank you, Marvin. And thank you to all the Filipino crew that will get us to and from the White Continent over the days ahead.
