We woke up in the Gerlache Strait to a wonderful Antarctic morning. We were surrounded by spectacular mountains and icebergs and were treated to views of humpback and minke whales as well as snow petrels before breakfast. Our morning program involved a visit to the gentoo penguin colony at Neko Harbour, and our afternoon program was a Zodiac cruise in Paradise Harbour.
1/30/2025
Read
National Geographic Resolution
Seno Agostini and Seno Hyatt
For seemingly the first time this trip, we experienced the wild elements for which Patagonia is notorious. Our scout boats hit the water as gusts of wind howled down the fjord. After much consideration, National Geographic Resolution sent Ice Pilot Johan Bernekorn to map these uncharted waters with the bathymetry sounding Zodiac. Once a safe path was set, Johan led the ship into the protective bay of Ensenada Kahn, and we were able to stretch our legs onshore for a truly expedition-style landing. We bushwhacked through the brilliant green forest, muskeg, and cobbled beach. The dive team sought shelter from the wind under the sea and were surprised to find so much bustling marine life in such a silty, shallow bay! We spent the afternoon in Seno Hyatt, making quite a splash with a Zodiac cruise, braving the weather to closely observe the tidewater glacier and scenery. A resting leopard seal was spotted on an ice floe! Tucked into a deep crack in the vertical rocks was even a gray-flanked Cinclode hopping between pieces of ice. Humpback whales made an appearance after dinner to wrap up the end of a great day.
