For our dive and photography expeditions to Antarctica we have chartered ice-strengthened polar vessels well suited to our purpose. Our mission is the exploration of Antarctica’s beauty, above and below the Southern Ocean.

With Waterproof Expeditions, we're effectively running two trips, each with their own dedicated guide(s). For the topside explorers, this means much smaller groups on a landing site or on a zodiac cruise of an area than is normally possible. For example, this last season we had between 10 and 16 guests on landings and zodiac cruises, compared with 45 or more (often much more) for a 'normal' expedition vessel. These small numbers gives us exceptional freedom to, for example, get an extra zodiac cruise on more than one occasion, and to do longer, more exploratory cruises. On the landing sites, our 'footprint' is very small – we are few enough to cause virtually no disturbance, leaving us with more rewarding interactions with the wildlife – and a feeling of being that little bit more in our own personal wilderness.

There are also occasions where the 'explorer's and the divers can add to each others' experience. Life in the Antarctic is very much based under the sea, and divers' perspectives, photographs, videos and presentations by our staff on the underwater world have proved fascinating for our topside guests. On many occasions our topside boats alert the divers to some wildlife they hadn't seen, and vice versa. We also notice a very pleasant synergy, when divers start talking to the topside folks and hear about the landings or zodiac cruises, they often decide to 'take a dive off' and join us for a landing or a cruise.

We always have a zodiac ready for those explorers who do not wish to dive, but who like to go for a long hike or take their time for topside photography.

Large Zodiacs with powerful outboard motors will usually be the boat of
choice to transport divers and explorers comfortably to their intended destinations and to get closer to nature and wildlife.

For the advanced diver this is truly a unique experience. You will see amazing ice formations and marine life seemingly from another planet, such as the Giant Isopods and salps. Seals race fearlessly by, graceful in a way not possible above the surface. Sunlight from above creates a stunning, ever-changing spectrum of color among the diverse benthos. Take your time to explore an environment few diver have ever experienced: the kelp walls, sea snails, crabs, sea butterflies, Shrubby horsetails, jellyfish, squid, Sea hedgehogs, starfish, krill and various Antarctic fish.
The waters of the Southern Ocean also support an economically important world fishery of fin fish, squid and krill, and the waters of the Southern Ocean affect all other world oceans.

The dive operations managed by the Waterproof Expedition team, relies on more than 15 years of experiences in Polar diving and is organized by polar dive experts who have experienced many extreme situations in the field and who are trained to search out the best opportunities for diving, taking into account the unpredictable weather and ice conditions. We maintain the highest level of safety in combination with quality diving.

We don’t dive through a wide hole in the ice (no ice diving !), but in a controlled environment around small grounded icebergs, from the shore or a zodiac or an ice shell.

Another important element on our dive trips is snorkelling. Some of the best encounters we had with large mammals is by snorkelling, including Leopard seals and Humpback Whales. Snorkelling is a major part of the trip experience !

Trip itineraries are a guideline. We will always try to hold to the itinerary as much as possible, but SAFETY is number one. Since this is an expedition to a remote part of the world, unpredictable weather conditions, availability of anchorages, wind conditions, and other factors beyond our control will always dictate when its safe to make a dive.

Because the Polar expedition vessels are not specifically build for diving we have designed a special Waterproof Expeditions Dive Container that we bring on board. This provides comfortable storing space in boxes for your gear, and a heating system to dry your suit and BC. No hassle to bring your suits and gear into your cabin or inside the ship.

Although the diving you will be doing while in the Polar Regions is not really considered "technical" in professional diving terminology, the conditions and gear required to dive safety do require a fair bit of experience and training.

Since diving is an equipment intensive activity, diving in Polar Regions requires an extensive amount of additional equipment because of the cold weather and water, and a higher level of diving experience because of the remote location involved. You will find more detailed information on Polar Diving Procedures in our section Travel Resources. Diving is no fun if you are cold and uncomfortable. Divers in cold water may have a higher air consumption rate, expend more energy, and can become more fatigued. Cold water also decreases a diver's ability to perform complex tasks that require manual dexterity.

It is therefore extremely important that you, prior to coming on the trip, have acquired all the appropriate equipment needed for diving in Polar Regions, and that adequate training and experience is gained in the use of new and unfamiliar equipment. In order to avoid any unnecessary problems you should complete several dives with all the equipment you intend to use, prior to your voyage.
For further details on what to bring for your dive expedition, please check out the section on Diving Equipment, or contact our office for more details.