Christina’s Journey Journal

Tag: guides

  • One of my favorite memories – The Humpback Whales in Graham Passage on New Year’s Day 🇦🇶

    One of my favorite memories – The Humpback Whales in Graham Passage on New Year’s Day 🇦🇶

    Happy New Year! One of my favorite moments in Antarctica happened on Jan. 1st, 2023–our first day exploring the peninsula.

    We are required to maintain a certain distance from all wildlife, including the whales. But sometimes they have other plans. There were lots of whales in Graham Passage that day and this curious Humpback whale went directly under our zodiac boat and came out the other side. 😮

    Then, another Humpback (maybe the same one?) did the same thing about 10 minutes later. I don’t have a very good video of that 2nd time, but I do of the first time! I have posted both below. (Video taken on my iPhone 13 ProMax- I did not zoom in.)

    The case of the curious Humpback under our zodiac. Ali, the lead expedition guide on the ship, was our guide/Zodiac driver. She said that this has only happened to her one other time in the 9 years she has been a guide. 🐋
    This is the second time. I wasn’t in a good position on the Zodiac to film but you can see the whale’s outline under the water in the beginning of the video.
  • Nightcap on 12/29 – The Expedition Guides 🇦🇷🇦🇶

    Nightcap on 12/29 – The Expedition Guides 🇦🇷🇦🇶

    Talk about a group of extremely knowledgeable, professional, and interesting people! All of our 34 expedition guides have a specialty—Ornithology (penguins), whales, history, geology, photography, biology, mariner life, helicopter pilots/ops, zodiac, kayak, paddling, and the list goes on. Did you know that there are 8 whale species in Antartica? Blue, Humpback, Orca, Fin, Minke, Sei, Right, and Sperm.

    Laura and I are ready for our evening program in the bar with one of the guides, Tim (British but lives in France now). The talk is entitled, “Working as a Field Assistance for the British Antartic Survey.

    One of many educational sessions on the ship by our expedition team