Deception Island - Antarctica

We encountered a mother and calf pair of humpback whales just off of Deception Island, and went over for a closer look. Humpback whales have enormous pectoral flippers, which at 5 meters in length, are about a third the animals total body length. Often white in coloration, these massive flippers occasionally became visible beneath the waters surface.

Deception Island is so-named because it appears to be a normal island at first glance, but is really anything but normal. A flooded volcano, approximately eight miles in diameter, Deception Island is shaped like a doughnut with a bite out of its side. After entering the protected harbor of Port Foster, we noticed the Whalers Bay off to the right, the site of the shore-based Hektor Whaling Station between 1910 and 1931.

We steamed further into the flooded volcano and anchored off Pendulum Cove. Widely regarded as the best swimming hole in the Antarctic, the geothermal heated waters at Pendulum Cove make it possible to bathe at the waters edge. Large clouds of steam were rising from the gravel shoreline, which seemed to be a good sign for the bravely foolish (including me!) attempting the swim today. A few confused chinstrap penguins looked on as one after another of us took the plunge into the icy waters. Shrieking voices, full sprints back up the beach, and clothes scattered in messy piles atop the volcanic black sand summarized this ultimate Antarctic experience.
Back on the ship, the hot water was flowing freely in many a shower as we attempted to warm ourselves back up after our Antarctic swim.

This video was created using Windows Live Movie Maker.

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Travel & Events

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• pendulum cove
• antarctic swim