Since we enjoyed favorable weather both ways through the Drake Passage, we arrived a bit early to Antarctica and were allowed to linger a bit later on the way out. So, we had a bit of extra time to enjoy the scenery and wildlife that this harsh environment had to offer. Our time in Antarctica, which I'm defining as the continental shelf waters which begin near the South Shetland Islands, spanned from Dec 3-8. Temperatures predictably dropped as we progressed further south, and our approach to the South Shetlands was met with fierce snow and wind. Our inbound island stop was Deception Island, which appears to be a normal rocky island from a distance, but in reality is a flooded active volcanic caldera. The caldera's center is sheltered from the high seas, which made it an ideal destination on a day like today. We were able to deploy the zodiacs and make our first landing! This seemed an appropriate way to be greeted by Antarctica, what with the horizonal snow and all. Even the ...
