Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes us further north through the channels between the Antarctic Peninsula and its offshore islands, particularly Anver Island until we stop on Cuverville Island surprisingly close to our first stop in the Melchior Islands. We anchor just offshore from the island and go kayaking in the deep water of the nearby fiord amongst the humpback whales before landing on the island with Antarctica's largest gentoo penguin colony. Upon returning to the ship we follow the coastline southward into Neko Harbour where we do our second landing on the mainland at another penguin colony. From there we head a little further south to the well named Paradise Harbour where we anchor in Skontorp Cove and do a sunset cruise in the zodiacs passing Brown Base and heading to another penguin colony.
Today's Journey
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Entering the Errea Channel at sunrise heading towards Cuvervile Island to the right. The rising sun shines brightly on Isla de Ronge. |
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We anchor about a kilometre off the island and set out in the kayaks on the still 400 metre deep channel carved by glaciers during the last ice age. |
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A humpback whale surfaces up ahead under O'Higgins Peninsula. There are a couple of them in the area and one dives under the kayaks at one point. |
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We land at Antactica's largest gentoo penguin colony on Cuverville Island. They are very friendly and curious, coming right up to us. |
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Back on the ship we cruise out of Errea Channel and head into Neko Harbour. The catabatic winds are falling off the mountains of mainland Antarctic Peninsula funnelling cloud into the glacial filled valleys. Fortunately we had gone out kayaking in the early morning as the sea is too rough now. |
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We anchor in Neko Harbour and take the zodiac boats to another gentoo penguin colony, this time on the Antarctic Peninsula mainland. Here is a moulting penguin. They can't swim for feeding whilst they are moulting. |
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An avalanche icefall deeply rumbling down the mountainside about two kilometres away. Another similar avalanche fell about ten minutes later. |
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Upon returning to the ship, we continue sailing along the coast into Paradise Harbour where we cruise in the Zodiacs right past the Argentine owned Almirante Brown Base on the mainland. There are six men running up and down the stairs getting their daily exercise. |
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We cruise past the icebergs as the sun dramatically sets creating amazing colours. |
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Silhouette of another penguin colony on Bryde Island on the other side of the bay shortly after sunset. We see a webcam set up here to send images of this colony around the world. They have returned to their nesting sites to sleep for the night. |
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