Navy vet Neil O'Connor was a guest aboard National Geographic Orion this past season. Here is the story of this 91 year old's poignant return to the island of Attu in the Aluetian Islands chain.
See spectacular wildlife photos taken aboard National Geographic Orion in the Bering Sea. National Geographic photographers captured brown bears, arctic fox, killer whales, bald eagles and many other animals in the region.
The islands and coasts that ring the Bering Sea are teeming with birdlife and fascinating land mammals like muskox, arctic fox, and brown bears; while the surrounding waters are churning with whales, seals, otters, and more.
Inhabited mainly by wildlife and strikingly picturesque, the Kuril Islands are a land of extremes—of snow and volcanoes, of sea lions and arctic foxes. Learn more about this remote and remarkable place.
During a calm and nocturnal navigation, we made it to the western region of the archipelago. Here, colder temperatures enrich the waters, providing better quality and quantity of food for the species in the area. This is reflected in the size and numbers of the marine iguanas and the amazing amount of sea turtles we saw during snorkeling today at Fernandina. We are so excited to keep exploring this amazing destination aboard National Geographic Gemini. Photos by Walter Perez and Ixora Berdonces
Our morning started with a walk on the sparkling green beach at Punta Cormorant on Floreana Island. We crossed to the other side of the point, stopping along the way to see flamingos in the lagoon right behind the green beach. After our hike, some of us enjoyed an exciting snorkeling excursion around Champion Island. Others enjoyed a ride in our glass-bottom boat where we saw plenty of fish, as well as Galapagos sea lions, a green sea turtle, and a whitetip shark. The afternoon was just as fun, with a visit to Post Office Bay to drop off and pick up postcards from the barrel, a tradition that dates back to the whaling days of the late 18th century. The day finished with a late afternoon kayak near Post Office Bay surrounded by sea turtles. It was a peaceful ending to this perfect day!
The winds howled and the rain ran in Alaska today. National Geographic Sea Lion and her people sailed the Inside Passage from the mouth of Glacier Bay, down Chatham Straight, through Sergius Narrows to eventually make it to our destination, Sitka. Along the way we saw soggy bald eagles, drenched Sitka black tail deer, and submerged Dall’s porpoise. In Sitka, we visited the National Historical Park, also known as Totem Pole Park. We braved the squalls and the heavy rain to walk amongst the beautiful trees and witness the poles and artifacts of the Tlingit peoples that still call this land home. It was a magnificent way to end a wonderful journey.
Today we saw the rarest seal in the world! We explored the rugged coastlines of the Ilhas Desertas by Zodiac, marveling at towering cliffs and hidden caves. We went ashore to visit a scientific station working to protect the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. In an incredible moment, about half our guests spotted a wild monk seal — one of the rarest marine mammals on Earth. Later, north of the islands, Captain Leo found a pod of short-finned pilot whales, ending a remarkable day.
San Cristobal Island is always full of surprises. In the morning, we visited Punta Pitt, and the outstanding landscape and creatures left our guests with a sense of wonder. In the afternoon, we visited Cerro Brujo, one of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago. After a relaxing walk along the beach, we departed towards Kicker Rock to circumnavigate this dramatic rocky outcrop while we enjoyed a wine tasting experience on board National Geographic Delfina.
