Cetacean sensation galore today! Today was cherished by all as our killer whale research team, naturalists, guests, and crew alike beheld a fantastic display of massive killer whales feeding on seals, a humpback boisterously trumpeting, southern giant petrels tearing apart scraps, and a cacophony of life brimming at the water’s surface. The morning started out watching Dr. John Durban, Dr. Holly Fernbach, and Dr. Leigh Hickmott gathering data via their hexacopter while juvenile killer whales gave the research Zodiac friendly bumps and naturalist/ Zodiac driver, Dr. Jimmy White declared it the “best day ever”! And how! These killer whales were notably much larger than their Alaskan counterparts in the northern hemisphere. While we guffawed at the bull’s massive dorsal fin, John revealed that the females seen from their hexacopter, even from the Zodiac, were even bigger!
The afternoon concluded with a landing at Danco Island hiking up a steep landscape to find a large Gentoo penguin colony and Zodiac cruises. These Zodiac cruises highlighted Antarctica’s majestic charm with friendly humpback whales, icebergs littered with crab eater seals, and massive ice caves carved into glaciers surrounding the bay. At the pinnacle of excitement, more than a few brave souls endured the polar plunge, leaping into the ice-cold ocean without abandon. Even one of our humpback whale friends cruised by the polar plunge platform to watch the splashes. All in all, it was a fabulous day filled with truly sensational wildlife, grand company, and beautiful vistas.
