The Drake Passage, 12/9/2018, National Geographic Explorer
Aboard the
National Geographic Explorer
Antarctica
As most of us slept in the wee hours of the morning, we crossed a major
oceanographic frontier—the Antarctic Convergence zone—and entered the Southern Ocean. As we ventured farther south, we were treated to sightings of a variety of seabirds and a brief glimpse of a mighty fin whale.
For as long as he can remember, Conor has always been preoccupied with the natural world, from the whales to the fungi. For most of his life he has been an islander: growing up in Cobh, Ireland and settling down in Tobermory in the Hebrides, Scotland...
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The last day of the expedition was spent aboard National Geographic Endurance cruising to our final destination of Ushuaia, Argentina. The day began with a bright and beautiful sunrise on the eastern horizon. As the day went on, we were treated to close sightings of albatross and whales as well as several educational presentations. In the afternoon, the ship entered the calm waters of the Beagle Channel. The welcome still waters and birds lazily soaring were the perfect way to be greeted back to the South American Continent. While the day drew to a close, the ship docked in Ushuaia. It was a wonderful end to a fantastic adventure. What a day!
Steaming north in calms seas, we reflected on a special trip to the White Continent. But the trip isn’t over yet. The morning’s activities included lectures on the historical race to the South Pole along with diving deep into the world of sea stars. After lunch, guests had the opportunity to sort through their favourite photos with our certified photo instructor, who will compile the photos to produce a guest slideshow. Following a delicious afternoon tea, we learned about the Extreme Ice Survey. National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions plays a vital role in maintaining and downloading important data.
The day began with a visit to the largest gentoo penguin colony on the Antarctic peninsula at Cuverville Island. Time ashore was spent with the colonies, and a chinstrap penguin was also seen. Zodiac cruising was offered to explore the surrounding area, which was filled with stunning ice and wildlife. In the afternoon, the ship arrived at the Melchior Islands for a beautiful tour via Zodiac to explore the many islands. Humpback whales, Weddell and leopard seals, and birdlife were all around. It was a stunning end to our time in Antarctica.
