One Ocean Expeditions Wraps Outstanding 2018-19 Antarctic Season
With the final voyage of the 2018-2019 Antarctic expedition cruise season complete, One Ocean Expeditions (OOE) reflects on an exceptional season that took passengers to the Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia, the Falkland Islands and beyond the Antarctic Circle, witnessing incredible wildlife, interacting with special guests and learning from OOE’s team of educators and experienced polar expedition guides.
The season began with OOE’s newest vessel, RCGS Resolute, having her inaugural voyage with Explorer-In-Residence for The Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) George Kourounis on board the much anticipated ‘Antarctica Off the Beaten Track’ voyage. Passengers were able enjoy the early season conditions by joining in activities such as snowshoeing, ski touring and camping under the stars.
For the ‘Christmas in Antarctica’ voyage, renowned cave diver and RCGS fellow Jill Heinerth joined guests on board.
A Photography Symposium led by famed photographer Daisy Gilardini and artist David McEown was held on Akademik Sergey Vavilov, with a second symposium taking place later in the season with award-winning photographers Dave Brosha and Paul Zizka. Guests were thrilled by the raw beauty of the region and the staggering amount of wildlife they were able to capture on camera while travelling in their small groups.
Inspired by Shackleton’s journey across South Georgia, environmentalist and filmmaker Tim Jarvis and his team followed in his footsteps to assess the current state of the glaciers and to continue their campaign on climate change. Documenting each step, Jarvis and his team were in awe of the legendary landscape and collected astonishing footage of the region.
This season saw the return of Ron Naveen and the penguin counters of Oceanites, now in its 25th year, as well as Marine Mammal Scientist Dr. Ari Friedlaender and his team from the California Ocean Alliance. The scientists, as well as OOE’s team of experts, were able to utilise the newly installed ‘One Lab’ on RCGS Resolute as a space for data analysis and scientific research.
For the first time ever, OOE implemented a satellite-based video conferencing technology through Connected North. The state-of-the-art ‘Cisco’ unit successfully connected onboard scientists with students from across North America in an interactive broadcast where they shared their in-depth knowledge on the underwater behaviour of marine mammals.
Filmed on board in 2017, documentary film ‘The Map to Paradise’ held its Antarctic premiere on board RCGS Resolute with a packed house enjoying popcorn and custom cocktails to celebrate the occasion. The film delivered a colourful collection of character driven stories that takes the viewer on a quest to protect the last wild and pristine marine places on Earth.
A visit to Antarctica is a life-changing experience, and passengers were able to experience not only the awe-inspiring landscapes but also a plethora of wildlife including vast numbers of humpback and minke whales, a variety of seals and birdlife and, of course, the ever-popular penguins. This season some guests were also fortunate to spot a rare leucistic gentoo penguin, as well as endangered fin whales by the dozens at Elephant Island.
