31 Jan 2017

SHOKALSKIY: Whales Surround the Akademik Shokalskiy

After 20 years of travelling to the Southern Ocean and Antartica, it is nights like last night that make you return each year.  As the nights before had been long and amazing, everyone was looking forward to an early night after a great dinner and with our stomachs full, I headed to the bridge to check the speed and course before heading for bed.  

When I walked on to the bridge there were five whale blows ahead of the ship and thousands of Shearwater birds on the water - this could only mean food, and lots of it!  As we brought the speed of the vessel down so as not to scare the whales the evenings events started to unfold.  Fin Whales were feeding in front of  the ship and as we turned and started to head NE again four Humpback Whales, that were not going to be upstaged by the Fin Whales, appeared!  We stopped the vessel in the flat calm seas and the whales started to move even more with tails and pectoral fins above the water surface, whale soundings, so close to the ship that the smell of their breath was evident in the air.  They were literally five metres in front and to the side of the stationary ship.  The whales rolled and moved very happily as we watched on in amazement.  As the time when by it just got better and better.  We watched on as they slowly swam away continuing to feed.  We were blessed to be with these ocean giants for over an hour.  This is truly wildlife experiences at very best.

Photo (from file): SBlanc