Another incredible day in Antarctica! The day got off to a blistery but slow start with relatively few whales and birds along with the news that the winds had blown ice to the shore meaning it was impossible to do a…
Once again, survey effort starts at first light (6.30 am). This is our second day in the Antarctic, but ask any of us how long we’ve been here and we’d tell you we’ve been scanning the ocean, getting in and out of…
It’s my birthday today! We are in Wilhelmina Bay in the Western Antarctic Peninsula, the weather is clear and we are all up at the crack of dawn. Marine mammal surveys begin at 0700 am, and the birthday wishes are…
It is only our second day at sea, but everyone seems to have developed sturdy sea-legs! None more so than our excellent crew on the Plancius, who despite the severe rolling of the ship moved gracefully around the…
In terms of its reputation, the Drake Passage was relatively calm today. This didn’t stop seasickness affecting the group, but most of us were feeling better after a stellar lunch. Today was our first chance to survey…
Travelling now into the temperate south of the country, long trousers and fleeces replaced the shorts and T-shirts – the beginnings of a gradual process of layering up. However, trouble was brewing. About an hour into…
For many of us this is our first time in South America and itself a very exciting part of the trip. Once settled into the hotel, we set out to explore Buenos Aires during the little time we have here. Two very…
On the West Coast of Scotland, alarms go off and a few groggy Master’s (currently studying in Oban) wake themselves up for the start of a long day of travelling. Though we know that this is the beginning of what is…
And we’re off….. The long-awaited day of departure arrived on a rather wet and windy mid-week 11th March day in St Andrews. Thirteen entrepid expeditioners set off from the Scottish Oceans Institute in the early…
A renewed sense of excitement – Visiting Discovery In Dundee With just over a month till we set off on our journey to the polar South, we made the notably shorter trip across the Tay to Discovery Point, Dundee. When we…