Day 3
On day three of my Antarctic expedition, we visited Deception Island, a volcanic bay where I saw jumping penguins for the first time in my life. The island features a large, water-filled caldera called Port Foster, which we entered through the spectacularly narrow Neptune’s Bellows. A powerful storm had pushed our boat faster than expected overnight—and was still shoving us around on deck. As they say, every cloud has a silver lining—this storm led us to an unexpected gem. Thank you, Neptune!
We also spotted sea lions and seals. Once a whaling station and later a research outpost, much of the island was abandoned after volcanic eruptions in the 1960s.
Fun Fact: Deception Island has extreme microclimates—air near volcanic areas can hit 40°C (104°F), and water temperatures can reach 70°C (158°F). Not what you'd expect in Antarctica, right?
To prepare for tomorrow’s first continental landing, we cleaned and inspected our gear to avoid introducing alien species to Antarctica’s fragile ecosystem. We also had a zodiac briefing covering potential dangers, from falling icebergs creating tsunamis to sudden weather shifts. We were reminded: This is not a cruise; this is an ocean expedition in one of the most remote, hostile places on Earth.
I can’t wait to set foot on my sixth continent tomorrow!