The Drake Passage has been kind and the rolling Southern Ocean swells have receded as National Geographic Explorer slipped onto the Antarctic continental shelf in the early morning on its final approach to Antarctica and the South Shetlands.
There was excitement on the bridge as sightings of distant mountain peaks, icebergs and welcoming wildlife of many different forms marked our arrival. Fin whales were blowing in all directions around the ship, too many to count, and those black torpedoes shooting from the water—our Happy Feet friends, the penguins!
Our water chariots, the Zodiacs, were waiting, ready for the landing parties and many new experiences that will come in the following days. Our first wildlife wonderland to enjoy was Barrientos Island, where we landed on the northeast beach, the soft snow falling and the rising steam from the land displayed the volcanic connection in the Shetlands area.
After cocktails and Recap on board, expedition leader Lucho couldn't let today's adventures stop there—the plan for an evening visit on our route south to Deception Island, one of the two only active volcanoes in Antarctica was a fantastic surprise and pleasure.
