We had an early morning yesterday when Seabourn’s expedition team called us down to try on our BOGS boots and listen to the IAATO briefing. Tour operators to the Antarctic must give us a presentation on how to visit the continent safely and without contaminating the land or animals. Avian Flu is a concern as well as not bringing any seeds or diseases with us.
The Drake Passage wasn’t too bad – about 15 foot swells and enough to keep us staggering around the ship without falling over. We made the crossing faster than expected, so our first stop this afternoon was Half Moon Island in the South Shetland Islands. We took the zodiacs from the ship and landed right on the beach. It was crazy windy and the weather alternated between snow, rain, and blue sky. The first thing we saw on the black pebble beach was a penguin lay her egg!
There were three types of penguins – Chinstraps, Adelies, and Gentoos. A Weddell seal was really lazy in the snow and looked like a rock until we got closer. Camara Base is an Argentine research station with bright red walls and the Argentine flag painted on the roof. As we sailed south, we saw Edinburgh Hill – a large volcanic mound rising over 300 feet from the sea.
