Fish Islands, Antarctic Circle
Late last evening we sailed through the very scenic Lemaire Channel into Penola Strait and ventured further south. As our expedition leader made the wake up call the ship was encircled by icebergs, brash ice, high mountain peaks and glaciers falling towards the sea, a very true and cold Antarctic feeling. We had arrived to Prospect Point near the Fish Islands, an ideal spot for activities. Someone said: "A fairy tale moment!"
The setting was ideal for an outing and very soon we had the entire fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks in the water. Anyone who wanted to get up close and take pictures of wildlife and ice from a kayak or Zodiac had a busy time. A landing was also offered for anyone eager to walk on snow and ice.
Photo opportunities and close encounters were endless; a leopard seal danced around the kayaks and Zodiacs, crab-eater seals let us come close as they hauled out on ice-flows... Just to be in ice and watch it closely now became a major event, and many will agree; ice is nice!
We are now very far south along the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the birdlife as it comes to species is getting very narrow. On the nearby Fish Island, a place our Oceanites crew tried to reach, about 1,000 pairs of Adélie penguins breed. The brash ice was too thick for a Zodiac to get through and they had to turn around. At least we saw a few birds swimming in the ice and one single bird got very excited as it saw all the people ashore and joined the group of red parkas! Penguins are very social birds!
We could smell the delicious food being prepared for lunch onboard and it was time for us to depart this mystical and magnificent place. Back onboard our Expedition Leader together with the Captain announced we would be heading further south. The Antarctic Circle was only about 5 hours away and it made for a unique opportunity for us to cross it. As we headed further south, a nap was a good option after a very busy morning. Later in the afternoon David gave us his very personal insight about the Great White Continent of Antarctica.
As we crossed the magic line, S66o33'6, the Antarctic Circle, we celebrated this great event with Swedish glûwine on the fore deck. Our hotel department did an excellent job as the wind had picked up and there was now a very cold breeze. The actual crossing of the line occurred at Matha Strait, named after Lt. A. Matha, 2nd in command of the French expedition under Charcot onboard the ship Français. This area was first ever seen by human eyes in 1898, as Gerlach with his expedition ship Belgica sailed through. Again, Charcot, in 1903-05, came through and many of the place names we find in the area today apply to both of these early expeditions.
After dinner we slowly made our way north together with a few Humpback whales. The sun was slowly setting and gave perfect light over the snow covered mountains of the Peninsula. We watched these giant whales play in a perfectly calm ocean, an experience that can barely be captured with a camera. You just have to be here to enjoy it. A great ending to a perfect day!
Late last evening we sailed through the very scenic Lemaire Channel into Penola Strait and ventured further south. As our expedition leader made the wake up call the ship was encircled by icebergs, brash ice, high mountain peaks and glaciers falling towards the sea, a very true and cold Antarctic feeling. We had arrived to Prospect Point near the Fish Islands, an ideal spot for activities. Someone said: "A fairy tale moment!"
The setting was ideal for an outing and very soon we had the entire fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks in the water. Anyone who wanted to get up close and take pictures of wildlife and ice from a kayak or Zodiac had a busy time. A landing was also offered for anyone eager to walk on snow and ice.
Photo opportunities and close encounters were endless; a leopard seal danced around the kayaks and Zodiacs, crab-eater seals let us come close as they hauled out on ice-flows... Just to be in ice and watch it closely now became a major event, and many will agree; ice is nice!
We are now very far south along the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the birdlife as it comes to species is getting very narrow. On the nearby Fish Island, a place our Oceanites crew tried to reach, about 1,000 pairs of Adélie penguins breed. The brash ice was too thick for a Zodiac to get through and they had to turn around. At least we saw a few birds swimming in the ice and one single bird got very excited as it saw all the people ashore and joined the group of red parkas! Penguins are very social birds!
We could smell the delicious food being prepared for lunch onboard and it was time for us to depart this mystical and magnificent place. Back onboard our Expedition Leader together with the Captain announced we would be heading further south. The Antarctic Circle was only about 5 hours away and it made for a unique opportunity for us to cross it. As we headed further south, a nap was a good option after a very busy morning. Later in the afternoon David gave us his very personal insight about the Great White Continent of Antarctica.
As we crossed the magic line, S66o33'6, the Antarctic Circle, we celebrated this great event with Swedish glûwine on the fore deck. Our hotel department did an excellent job as the wind had picked up and there was now a very cold breeze. The actual crossing of the line occurred at Matha Strait, named after Lt. A. Matha, 2nd in command of the French expedition under Charcot onboard the ship Français. This area was first ever seen by human eyes in 1898, as Gerlach with his expedition ship Belgica sailed through. Again, Charcot, in 1903-05, came through and many of the place names we find in the area today apply to both of these early expeditions.
After dinner we slowly made our way north together with a few Humpback whales. The sun was slowly setting and gave perfect light over the snow covered mountains of the Peninsula. We watched these giant whales play in a perfectly calm ocean, an experience that can barely be captured with a camera. You just have to be here to enjoy it. A great ending to a perfect day!
