20 Feb 2025

Whales, Seals, Ice & So Much More

This morning, as we cruised along the western shore of the Ross Sea, we came across a great concentration of whales. Enormous Blue Whales, the largest of all, gave us a real treat, surfacing close to Heritage Adventurer several times. Meanwhile, Humpbacks slapped their pectoral fins on the surface and gave us wonderful views of their tail flukes as they dived, while groups of Minke Whales passed by. At times, we had so many whales around us it was hard to know which way to look!

Later in the day, we arrived at the rugged cliffs of Cape Hallett at the mouth of Edisto Inlet. We Zodiac cruised into the deep inlet, moving amongst small icebergs, marvelling at the tumbling glaciers and the stunning vista of the Admiralty Range. In a tiny ice-clogged bay, we found about fifty Weddell Seals. They were completely unconcerned with our presence, allowing us to spend time immersed in this serene scene of masses of seals sleeping on a jumble of ice. What a memorable experience to complete another expedition day rich in wildlife.

Images © S. Bradley, Heritage Expeditions