December 2, 2024 - Monday - Livingston Island

December 2, 2024 – Monday                          Day 68 of this journey 

Explore Antarctica – Day 7 – Livingston Island 

This is our last day in Antarctica. We are parked off Livingston Island at Elephant Point. By saying that we are parked, that is a pretty apt description. We are using something called Dynamic Positioning (DP). Most watercraft sailing in Antarctica are not allowed to drop an anchor. DP utilizes GPS and once it is engaged, the thrusters automatically engage to maintain our position at an exact location. 

Livingston Island is part of the South Shetland Islands north of the Antarctic Peninsula. This is called Elephant Point because there is quite a colony of Elephant Seals here and we are planning a landing in the middle of that colony.

Livingston Island, Elephant Point, South Shetland Islands

For the morning, we will take our last SOB ride. It is fairly clear, but cold out there. We bundle up in our various layers and report to the meeting area. The swells aren’t as bad as yesterday, so we are able to board the SOB from the hangar. That means we aren’t competing for space with the zodiacs. 

As soon as everyone is aboard, the SOB takes off at high speed. I’m not sure if we were at maximum speed (40 mph) or not, but he was really flying. We stay at that pace for 15 minutes when we arrive at Deception Island. There are a few Elephant Seals that are just light brown spots on the beach. There are a few Gentoo penguins as well. And for the first time since leaving Ushuaia, we see green. We are far enough north that plants are able to survive here.

Those light brown dots are elephant seals

Green! 

We can’t get too close to shore as this bay is too shallow and rocky. We hang around for about 10 minutes, then we spend another 15 minutes getting back to the ship. I don’t remember ever being so cold. I have no idea what the wind chill factor was but WOW! We were so glad to get back to the ship and warm up. 

Moving around the ship, we chatted with a few folks that had done the landing in the morning. Everyone was really impressed. So, we’ve got something to look forward to.

The view of nearby land

Our afternoon departure was 3:00 pm. We suit up with all the layers one more time. We’ll be turning in our boots and waterproof pants after this excursion. The zodiac heads toward shore at a quick pace, then slowly approaches the beach. The driver hops out of the zodiac to push it the rest of the way. And a couple of Team members come out into the water to help. One by one, we swing our legs over the side of the zodiac and drop into the water. Its only about 6-8 inches deep and a Team member escorts each guest to shore. The Team has laid out a path that we can walk along for viewing the seals. It isn’t far, is relatively level even if it is a little muddy. Trekking poles were handed out if you wanted one.

Approaching the beach and waiting for the zodiac
already there to leave

The unloading process

The seals are everywhere. This year’s pups are easy to spot as they are a lighter color. But they are at least 6 feet long. Others look huge to us, but we learn that all of these are no more than teenagers, and these are also all males. We do not see any older males with the proboscis that gives them their name. We’ve been told that the adult males can reach 19’ in length and weigh as much as 8,800 pounds. So cool!

Elephant seals everywhere

Pups

Just lounging around

A couple of boys decided they needed to practice fighting
Watch the video below

 

Time to go. The Team pushes and pulls the loaded zodiacs into deeper water

Very interesting landscape

We return to the beach to wait for our return ride to the ship. We are directed to wash as much of the mud off our boots as we can. There is a bucket of long handled brushes that make it easy. Again, we are assisted in getting back onto the zodiac and Team members push the loaded zodiac out into the water until it is deep enough to engage the propeller. 

On our way back, we spot what looks like a stranded zodiac. We know what’s going on, but the rest of the people on our zodiac do not. Every segment, on the last day that the toys can be in the water, the Beverage team send glasses and champagne out for every returning zodiac. Everybody gets a glass of champagne (or orange juice) to toast with before getting back on board.

Tonight, we will be heading back into the Drake Passage. The forecast looks like it will be very similar to our trip south. A lot of rock and roll, but that is considered a “good” passage.

A final look at Antarctica. What a wonderful experience