This expert led polar diving, marine life, wildlife and adventure expedition uniquely combines the above and below water exploration of  two distinct areas of Antarctica: the Antarctic Peninsula and the Weddell Sea. Antarctica is one of the most remote and least dived locations in the World and exploration of the Weddell Sea to the east will take pioneering diving a step even further.

The Weddell Sea is home to the World's biggest icebergs and the largest of all penguins: the Emperor penguin, who we hope to visit at Snow Hill. With a total of 12 days on the water, this voyage is longer than most giving precious extra time to explore the White Continent and its stunning scenery and wildlife.

Dry suit divers hope to be richly rewarded by diving in this pioneering marine environment, the Weddell Sea in particular being rarely explored underwater.  February is usually an ideal time to see whales and we can may be lucky enough to encounter Weddell seals, crabeater seals, fur seals; and of course one of Antarctica 's top predators: the leopard seal. 
 

Having the opportunity to witness leopard seals ambush and then feed upon their penguin prey underwater is a truly exhilarating and memorable experience. (Click Here to read more about encounters with Leopard seals).

Rather than dive from a hole in the ice, we dive off the edges of ice flows and around spectacular icebergs where we hope to observe penguins from beneath the surface as they plunge en masse into the sea.  The ice itself forms one of the special features of diving in Antarctica and the Weddell Sea, where some bergs, trapped by the western flowing current, can exceed 20 miles in length. Four fifths of every berg is submerged and diving permits us to observe their intricately carved forms beneath the water.

The macro marine life in Antarctic waters includes a fascinating array of species you are unlikely to see anywhere else in the World. Giant isopods (10cm) crawl along the seabed like enormous woodlice, 34 armed star-fish in stunning colours hide amongst kelp walls, and shy Antarctic bloodless fish, filled with their own special anti-freeze survive in these waters. There is a little documented about the underwater world of the Weddell Sea and new species are being discovered in Antarctica all the time.

The opportunities for excellent wildlife and landscape photography abound from the moment we slip our moorings. The landscapes of the region are particularly breath-taking: the precipitous peaks, and sweeping glaciers of the Antarctic peninsula combined with the stark drama and enormous ice bergs of the Weddell Sea. The wildlife itself lives up to its reputation of being abundant, and on this trip a host of penguins, Adelie, Gentoo, Chinstrap and perhaps even the largest of them all the Emperor will hopefully join the whales and seals of this incredible area, as a gift to both the professional and amateur photographer alike, above and below the waterline. 

Natural History
 
For both divers and non-divers, this voyage provides a unique opportunity to see and learn more about the entire polar ecosystem than if on a purely land based expedition. Divers will have the opportunity to participate in zodiac exploration and land excursions after their dives have been completed; or as an alternative to the dives planned on any day. 

This voyage is perfect for divers with non-diving partners who are in search of an equally inspiring experience. Each day, all participants will have the opportunity to share experiences, photographs and video footage with the experts and divers who have been exploring below the waterline.  To enhance your understanding, there will be a programme of inspiring evening lectures about the wildlife, ecology and history of Antarctica.

Day 1 - Embark Ushuaia
Our competent Russian crew will welcome us aboard our 50 passenger ship in the afternoon. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we will settle into shipboard life and enjoy our first meal on board.

Days 2 & 3 - At sea
Cape Horn, the most southerly point of the American continent, has stimulated the imagination of mankind since Sir Francis Drake inadvertently rounded it back in 1580.  Some of us will approach this historic crossing with more than a little trepidation. But despite its reputation, there are many times when the Drake Passage resembles a lake, with lazy Southern Ocean swells rolling under the keel. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter rough crossings with large waves. The size of the waves and the force of the gale will take on gigantic proportions when related around the fire back home.

This is not a luxury ship, she is homely and strong, built to be a research vessel and refitted to comfortable passenger standard in 2001. The mood on board is definitely casual and at seas the expedition is  totally self-sufficient.

During the Drake crossing, a lecture program focussing on the  the wildlife, geology, history and geography of the Antarctic Peninsula will commence. Nearing the tip of the Peninsula towards the end of day three, excitement reaches fever pitch with everyone on the bridge watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective below the Antarctic Convergence as the ship is surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you forever.

Days 4 -6 – Weddell Sea
Depending on the weather, we will first approach Antarctica to the north of King George Island or in narrow channels between the South Shetland Islands. From there we will head through Antarctic Sound to the eastern side of the Peninsula.

A host of choices is now open to us and depending on the ice and weather conditions the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Our experienced leaders, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use this expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather and ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours' daylight and the days will be as busy as you wish.

Once we arrive in the calmer waters of Antarctic Sound, we start our first day in Antarctica with a mandatory check-out dive at an easy accessible site to get accustomed to the cold water and adjust your weights.  Diving in Antarctica is serious stuff and safety is our first priority. Being comfortable in the water with your equipment is essential.

The final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Team and is influenced local conditions, like ice and weather.

Places we may visit around the Weddell Sea area and on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula are:
Brown Bluff, Paulet Island, Devil Island, Joinville Island, D'Urville Island and a large variety of other surprises.
 
Days 8 & 9 – West side of the Antarctic Peninsula 
On our way further South West we will sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. In Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers.

When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising and diving between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
Here we will also have one of the most spectacular wall dives in the Antarctic. The wall drops down to 75m. Thanks to the nearby Shag colony, there is an abundant marine life.

We might sail through the Lemaire Channel, famous for its beautiful scenery and great dive sites, to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue- eyed Shags. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.
 
Days 10 and 11 - At sea 
Time to head back to Tierra del Fuego, with lectures and videos to complete our Antarctic education. This is a time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and felt, and the impact this voyage has had on our attitude to life. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather conditions permitting.
 
Day 12 - Beagle Channel 
 During the early morning we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia about 0700. As soon as customs have cleared the ship we will be free to disembark. It’s a busy time, with people saying farewell to our crew and to fellow passengers who have shared the intensity of exploring this magnificent white wilderness. We head off in our different directions, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.