National Geographic Explorer continued its journey east toward the legendary island of South Georgia. Still reeling from our encounter with about 1,000 southern right whale dolphins the day before, the ship was abuzz with guests comparing photos and stories of the experience. Crossing through the Antarctic Convergence, where the Southern Ocean overtakes the temperate waters of the South Atlantic, we felt a chill in the foggy air, letting us know that we were getting closer. The lectures for the day included a plankton talk, emphasizing the importance of the small life within our oceans, and guest speaker David Sibley, birding legend, demonstrating a live drawing.
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.
