This journey to the Antarctic Peninsula will be an unusual and exciting one because our plan is to go exploring in the Weddell Sea. The Erebus and Terror Gulf and the Weddell Sea itself are home to huge tabular icebergs that have split from the Larsen, Ronne and Filchner ice shelves further to the south.

Sometimes these spectacular waterways are choked with ice, creating exciting navigational challenges for our captain and crew. Nestled amongst ice floes of the northern Weddell Sea is the little known Seymour Island. Locked away in its fossil-rich rocks is the story of the disappearance of the dinosaurs and the collapse of the mythical Gondwanaland. One of the aims of this voyage is to explore these fossil beds, as well as to enjoy the wildlife treasure chest of the northern Weddell Sea.

This area of the Peninsula is also rich in exploration history. One of the strangest stories is the saga of Nordenskjold's Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04, which was the first expedition to over-winter in the Peninsula.

Our emphasis is on unique wildlife encounters on land as well as in the water, exploring new dive sites and pristine landscapes, visiting sites of historical interest and the occasional visit to scientific stations.

Expeditioners and divers will gather in Ushuaia, and have time to explore the bustling community that lays claim to being the world’s most southerly town. We advise you to arrive one day before departure to help you to acclamatize to time difference and relax after your long flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina, or Santiago, Chile. Expect wonderful views of the Beagle Channel, and the peaks of the Five Brothers from the airplane on its descent. The airport in Ushuaia is small. Taxicabs are easy to find for the transfer to your hotel. Your hotel is not far from the airport and the taxi fare is reasonable.
Please contact us for assistance with your flight and hotel arrangements.

Our competent Russian crew will welcome us aboard Polar Pioneer in the afternoon. Sailing down the Beagle Channel, we will settle into shipboard life and enjoy our first meal on board.

Cape Horn, the most southerly point of the American continent, has stimulated the imagination of mankind since Sir Francis Drake inadvertently rounded it back in 1580.
Some of us will approach this historic crossing with more than a little trepidation. But despite its reputation, there are many times when the Drake Passage resembles a lake, with lazy Southern Ocean swells rolling under the keel. On the other hand, we sometimes encounter rough crossings with large waves. The size of the waves and the force of the gale will take on gigantic proportions when related around the fire back home.

Polar Pioneer is not a luxury ship, she is homely and strong, built to be a research vessel and refitted to comfortable passenger standard in 2001. The mood on board is definitely casual. At sea we are totally self-sufficient. The days flow by as we travel snugly in our cocoon. A favourite pastime on board is to stand at the stern watching the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following in our wake. They rise and fall skilfully, using air currents created by the ship to gain momentum.

During our Drake crossing, we will commence our lecture program about the wildlife, geology, history and geography of the Antarctic Peninsula. Nearing the tip of the Peninsula towards the end of day three, excitement reaches fever pitch with everyone on the bridge watching for our first iceberg. The ocean takes on a whole new perspective once we are below the Antarctic Convergence and are surrounded by the surreal presence of floating ice sculptures. The memory of your first big iceberg sighting is likely to remain with you forever.

Depending on the weather, we will first approach Antarctica to the north of King George Island or in narrow channels between the South Shetland Islands. From there we will head through Antarctic Sound to the eastern side of the Peninsula.
A host of choices is now open to us and depending on the ice and weather conditions the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula is ours to explore. Our experienced leaders, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use this expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather and ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours' daylight and the days will be as busy as you wish.

Once we arrive in the calmer waters of Antarctic Sound, we start our first day in Antarctica with a mandatory check-out dive at an easy accessible site to get accustomed to the cold water and adjust your weights. Our dive guides will be with you in the water to assist you with your equipment. Diving in Antarctica is serious stuff and safety is our first priority. Being comfortable in the water with your equipment is essential..
Our experienced leaders, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use this expertise to design our voyage from day to day. This allows us to make best use of the prevailing weather and ice conditions and wildlife opportunities. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-20 hours' daylight and the days will be as busy as you wish. There is plenty of time for sleep when you get home!
The final itinerary will be determined by the Expedition Team and is influenced local conditions, like ice and weather.

Places we may visit around the Weddell Sea area and on the eastern side of the Antarctic Peninsula are:
Brown Bluff, Paulet Island, Devil Island, Joinville Island, D'Urville Island
and a large variety of other surprises.

On our way further South West we will sail to Cuverville Island, a small precipitous island, nestled between the mountains of the Antarctic Peninsula and Danco Island. It contains a large colony of Gentoo Penguins and breeding pairs of Brown Skuas. In Neko Harbour we will have the opportunity to set foot on the Antarctic Continent in a magnificent landscape of huge glaciers.
When sailing to Paradise Bay, with its myriad icebergs and deep cut fjords, we will have the opportunity for zodiac cruising and diving between the icebergs in the inner parts of the fjords.
Here we will also have one of the most spectacular wall dives in the Antarctic. The wall drops down to 75m. Thanks to the nearby Shag colony, there is an abundant marine life.
We might sail through the Lemaire Channel, famous for its beautiful scenery and great dive sites, to Pleneau and Petermann Island where we can find Adelie Penguins and Blue- eyed Shags. Sailing north through Neumayer Channel we arrive at the Melchior Islands with a very beautiful landscape and again possibilities for zodiac cruising among the icebergs, where we may encounter Leopard Seals, Crabeater Seals and whales. In this area we have good chances to see Humpback Whales and Minke Whales.

Time to head back to Tierra del Fuego, with lectures and videos to complete our Antarctic education. This is a time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and felt, and the impact this voyage has had on our attitude to life. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather conditions permitting.

During the early morning we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into dock in Ushuaia about 0700. As soon as customs have cleared the ship we will be free to disembark. It’s a busy time, with people saying farewell to our crew and to fellow passengers who have shared the intensity of exploring this magnificent white wilderness. We head off in our different directions, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature.