Today we woke up well and truly in Antarctic waters, finally below 60 degrees south latitude and with sea temperatures below freezing. With calmer sea conditions, we enjoyed views of beautiful light-mantled albatrosses and cape petrels flying through the light snow falling around the ship. Calmer conditions also allowed us the chance to strengthen our sea legs and enjoy presentations about Antarctic geology and Antarctic krill from our expedition staff. As we made our way into the protected waters of the South Shetland Islands, Captain Yuriy Tupikov hosted a welcome cocktail party for this expedition of National Geographic Explorer. We enjoyed observing beautiful scenery and porpoising penguins from the windows, a “sneak treat” of the excitement to come as we plan to explore the White Continent tomorrow!
3/13/2024
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National Geographic Endurance
At Sea Towards the Beagle Channel and Ushuaia
A gently swaying National Geographic Endurance greeted the day. The wind and waves that our guests had become accustomed to during this voyage were nowhere in sight. Instead, a light breeze and calm seas lifted our spirits as we prepared for our final day on the ship. Sei whales, albatross, and dolphins welcomed us into the Beagle Channel before long. In between packing and reclaiming our passports, several presentations were given with a wide range of topics. First up, our undersea team shared footage from several dives in the Falklands, including a notable visit from some rather playful southern sea lions. Secondly, our National Geographic photographer spoke about photography and how it can be used to inspire conversation about wild places. Wrapping up our presentations for the day was our guest speaker, Mensun Bound, who provided a loose Q&A session on Shackleton. Captain Oliver and Expedition Leader Russ shared a few words about our epic voyage and sent us off to dinner. A day full of education and sightseeing – a great way to say farewell to our incredible guests.
