Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula - Basecamp Plancius: March 4-15, 2011
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12 day Scuba Diving, Field camping, Hiking, Kayaking, Mountaineering, Photo Workshop Expedition
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The huge Weddell Sea, at its widest it is more than 2000 kilometres (1250 miles) across, is located on the south-east side of the Antarctic Peninsula. The Sea is considered high-Antarctic in contrast to the north-west coast of the Peninsula, which is low-Antarctic. The Sea extents so far south that it is under the direct influence of the very cold Antarctic Continental Climate.
- As the Weddell Sea is under the direct influence of the harsh Antarctic Continental climate temperatures are on the average lower than on the north-west side of the Antarctic Peninsula, around 1ºC (34ºF). In February - March, at the end of the Austral summer, temperatures can even drop slightly below zero. The north-west corner of the Weddell Sea, the area to which our Weddell Sea voyages are limited, is protected fairly well from the prevailing western winds. The weather therefore is often good and fairly stable in this area. Strong katabatic winds can occur at any time though and may have an influence on our programme.
Please Note; Pack-ice is formed in the Weddell Sea early in the winter season and can stay there until late summer. Although we do expect to be able to penetrate into the north-west part of the Weddell Sea, nature does not give us a guarantee. Pack-ice is unpredictable and may prevent our ships from completing the planned itinerary.
Embarkation/ Disembarkation for the Expedition: Ushuaia (Argentina)
Day 1
In the afternoon, we embark in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world located at the Beagle Channel and sail through this scenic waterway for the rest of the evening.
Day 2 & 3
During these two days we will sail across the Drake Passage. When we cross the Antarctic Convergence, we arrive in the circum-Antarctic up welling zone. In this area we may meet Wandering Albatrosses, Grey Headed Albatrosses, Black-browed Albatrosses, Light-mantled Sooty Albatrosses, Cape Pigeons, Southern Fulmars, Wilson’s Storm Petrels, Blue Petrels and Antarctic Petrels. If the winds are favourable we might enter Antarctic waters in the evening of the third day near the South Shetlands.
These volcanic islands are windswept and often shrouded in mist and fog, but do offer subtle pleasures. There is a nice variety of flora (mosses, lichens and flowering grasses) and fauna, such as Gentoo Penguins, Chinstrap Penguins and southern Giant Petrels.
Day 4 – 5
A typical itinerary in the Weddell Sea and Antarctic Peninsula could be as follows. This is a sample only, the final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Leader on board.
We will sail into the Weddell Sea through the ice-clogged Antarctic Sound. Huge tabular icebergs will announce our arrival to the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula. We plan to visit Devil Island and Vega Island with a large colony of Adelie Penguins and a magnificent view for those hikers who can make it to the top of the hill. Melting ice sometimes provides spectacular waterfall from the cliffs close to point ‘Well-Met’. The protected waters around Herbert Sound at the North side of James Ross Island will become our “Basecamp” for all activities. This place is hardly visited by other ships and offers us a great opportunity to scout this region first time on foot, per zodiac, during photo excursions and kayak trips. We plan to stay two overnights at anchor in order to implement two camp nights and one full day activity from Basecamp at either Uru Pensinsula on James Ross Island or Vega Island. If we cannot follow our itinerary into Herbert Sound due to sea ice, we can continue our voyage to seek for new camping grounds somewhere else. Exploring the unknown - this is true expeditioning!
Day 6
In the morning, after we brought the shore campers back to the ship, we will set sail to Paulet Island. Weather and conditions permitting we will land on this remote island to see the remains of the Nordenskiöld expedition and thousands of Adelie penguins. We might also have time to visit Brown Bluff in order to make a continental landing at the Northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. During hours at sea watch out for stray Emperor penguins. There might be a chance to see one on an ice-floe. If the sea is calm at Brown Bluff there is opportunity to kayak and walk along the shore line. We continue sailing through the Antarctic Sound to the West side of the Antarctic Peninsula along the Davis Coast.
Day 7
We will sail along the Wright Ice Piedmont at the Antarctic continent, named after the brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright who made the first flight with a plane in 1903. Exploration of Roe Island, an island lying in the entrance of the Curtiss Bay just about 2 miles west of Graham Land (Antarctic continent), named after the British pioneer aircraft designer Alliott Verdon-Roe, who made aircrafts since 1908. Seaplane Point is situated a few miles of Roe Island at the Antarctic continent. It was named in association with Curtiss Bay, after Glenn Curtiss, the American engineer who pioneered sea planes from 1911.
Day 8
We hope to sail to Neko Harbour and Paradise Bay to reach the southernmost area of our voyage, where we have again the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales. Conditions permitting we will seek for a place to erect our tents for a camp night ashore.
Day 9
We will sail via the Melchior Islands towards the open sea of the Drake Passage. We have again a chance of seeing many seabirds.
Day 10 & 11
At sea .
Day 12
We arrive in the morning and disembark in Ushuaia.
Rates:
- Twin private: € 6.190 $ 7,490
- Quadruple private: € 5.090 $ 6,150
- Superior: € 7.050 $ 8,490
- Scuba Diving: € 300 p.p. $ 350 p.p.
- Field camping: € free of charge $ free of charge
- Hiking: € free of charge $ free of charge
- Kayaking: € free of charge $ free of charge
- Mountaineering: € free of charge $ free of charge
- Photo Workshop: € free of charge $ free of charge
Note: Divers must be advanced and experienced in dry suit and cold water diving. We hope for 1-2 different dives per day parallel to all other activities. Diving depends on local ice and weather conditions. Dive masters and dive guides are responsible for safety during operation. Basic equipment is onboard (scuba tanks, compressors, weights and diving essentials). Divers bring their personal gear. For more details please refer to the activity manual. http://www.oceanwide-expeditions.com
To book this trip or with questions, please contact Rima at Oceanwide Expeditions and mention you are travelling with Miss Scuba!
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