After an evening’s navigation from the South Shetland Islands through the Bransfield Strait and into the Gerlache Strait we began our day in Antarctica in the region of the Antarctic Peninsula aptly named The Danco Coast. More specifically we began our day on Danco Island, named for an officer on board the late 19th century expedition of the Belgica that perished during that historic voyage.
Danco Island, a small, mostly ice-shrouded rocky islet, harbors a healthy colony of nesting gentoo penguins and is surrounded by ice-laden craggy peaks and steep sloped glaciers crashing to the water’s surface. Our morning here was multi-faceted, including excursions ashore to visit the penguin rookeries and scale the lofty summit to gasp at the panoramic views. Meanwhile, others took to kayaks to paddle amongst the many massive icebergs stranded and grounded in the waters around the island. Some chose to simply explore this magical locale by Zodiac, taking in the sights, sounds and overwhelming grandeur from a mobile platform, even getting glimpses of hauled out Weddell Seals on the exposed rocky shoals around the island.
The afternoon activity took place just a mere stone’s throw away, in Antarctic terms, at Neko Harbor. It’s hard for the first-time visitor to this surreal ice, sea and landscape to garner an appreciation for distance, space and time, but to the seasoned eye, Neko Harbor and Andvord Bay are wholly distinct. This enticing bight in the peninsula may be deemed the most popular “continental” landing in all the Antarctic. For it falls squarely on what we deem the peninsula proper and for the continent seeker qualifies as the whatever-numbered continent Antarctica falls under.
Regardless of its status, it is a remarkable bight of land to explore and, as with Danco Island, is crawling with gentoo penguins. It was also another good opportunity to set out in the Zodiacs and cover a bit more of the bay. The myriad large icebergs were a main attraction and it’s always worth getting a little closer look at them from the water’s surface as they tower tens of feet above. Their rich blue coloration and uniquely sculpted features sets each one apart like the individual snowflakes that fell so long ago to form them.
There were also some sightings of both Weddell and crabeater seals hauled out on ice floes and good viewing opportunities from our mobile platforms. One Zodiac was greeted by a curious and playful minke whale, approaching the boat and piercing the water surface to get a better look at the onlookers.
