Brown Bluff and Paulet Island
I think most of us onboard Endeavour have run out of superlatives to describe Antarctica, and now have been reduced to standing with our mouths hanging open. Each day, and each area we explore brings something new. We awoke this morning to Matt’s gentle wake up call proclaiming our arrival in the Weddell Sea. This is the first time Endeavour has been able to get into the Weddell Sea this year, due to unusually heavy ice this season. It has been well worth the wait. The Weddell Sea is home to BIG ice, many large tabular bergs from the breakup of the Larsen Ice Shelf. This morning Endeavour wove in and out of these icebergs, shaped by the elements into fantastic sculptures, drawing us into some winter wonderland fantasy world. It was all we could do to tear ourselves off deck to run inside and get a cup of coffee or grab a bite to eat.
The undersea world of Antarctica is just as astounding as the surface. In water warming to only 28 degrees Fahrenheit, one would think that life would be limited. This could not be further from the truth. This polar water is highly enriched with oxygen, creating a perfect environment for the beautiful and strange. Onboard Endeavour, we have many ways of exploring the icy depths. One of the favorites is the ROV, or Remotely Operated Vehicle. Flown from the surface, this small submersible can travel down to 500 feet, well below diving depths. It is at these dramatic depths that Undersea Specialist Dennis Cornejo, and myself as assistant, find some of the most remarkable life. There is always something different to be seen, and often the creatures have not been documented, creating a game of “guess the invertebrate” when looking at the film.
The anemone (pictured here) consists of a thick column which is anchored, eight to several hundred hollow stinging tentacles that they use to catch their prey, and a silt shaped mouth. They usually eat anything from small invertebrates, to larger fish.
Once again Antarctica has left us nearly flabbergasted at all she has to offer. Tomorrow we move on to places that few people have visited since the inception of tourism, and we await for the next wonder.
I think most of us onboard Endeavour have run out of superlatives to describe Antarctica, and now have been reduced to standing with our mouths hanging open. Each day, and each area we explore brings something new. We awoke this morning to Matt’s gentle wake up call proclaiming our arrival in the Weddell Sea. This is the first time Endeavour has been able to get into the Weddell Sea this year, due to unusually heavy ice this season. It has been well worth the wait. The Weddell Sea is home to BIG ice, many large tabular bergs from the breakup of the Larsen Ice Shelf. This morning Endeavour wove in and out of these icebergs, shaped by the elements into fantastic sculptures, drawing us into some winter wonderland fantasy world. It was all we could do to tear ourselves off deck to run inside and get a cup of coffee or grab a bite to eat.
The undersea world of Antarctica is just as astounding as the surface. In water warming to only 28 degrees Fahrenheit, one would think that life would be limited. This could not be further from the truth. This polar water is highly enriched with oxygen, creating a perfect environment for the beautiful and strange. Onboard Endeavour, we have many ways of exploring the icy depths. One of the favorites is the ROV, or Remotely Operated Vehicle. Flown from the surface, this small submersible can travel down to 500 feet, well below diving depths. It is at these dramatic depths that Undersea Specialist Dennis Cornejo, and myself as assistant, find some of the most remarkable life. There is always something different to be seen, and often the creatures have not been documented, creating a game of “guess the invertebrate” when looking at the film.
The anemone (pictured here) consists of a thick column which is anchored, eight to several hundred hollow stinging tentacles that they use to catch their prey, and a silt shaped mouth. They usually eat anything from small invertebrates, to larger fish.
Once again Antarctica has left us nearly flabbergasted at all she has to offer. Tomorrow we move on to places that few people have visited since the inception of tourism, and we await for the next wonder.
