News from our students

Here we are in South Georgia, about to land at Salisbury plain in the Bay of Isles where 250,000 breeding pairs of penguins are to be found.
Lyn
South Georgia is Amazing!! We went to Grytviken and gathered at Shackelton's grave and toasted him as a great leader of men! He travelled 800 miles across the southern ocean in terrible seas. He then walked across a glacier in South Georgia to get help to save his men. It's an incredible story.
Michelle
In South Georgia we got out of the rubber zodiac and stepped out amongst the penguins and elephant seals. We've seen loads of stuff - different kinds of mammals and all sorts of birds including the famous Wandering Albatross. We saw masses on the way down here as we dodged icebergs- they’re amazing too- so huge and bluey white like massive sculptures rising out of the sea
Laura
It's great getting to do loads of landings and it's a huge privilege to b here but it is a very fragile environment. To protect it, we get hoovered - yes, our jackets, and rucksacks get vacuum cleaned to remove pollen and spores and our boots are dipped in a chemical bath- We have to take so much care to avoid bringing any alien species to such a special and unique environment.
Amber
Life on the ship is quite an experience too - always busy because, even on days when we are at sea all day there are lectures and briefings on all sorts of things to do with Antarctica. Living is comfortable but quite confined and when it is quite rough we have to hang onto our cutlery, plates and even our dinner - drinks sometimes bounce off the table but it's all good fun and we've even made some Christmas decorations for the ship. ( it's my birthday !!!)
Mairi
We unanimously agree that this trip is far more than we expected. As a group of students we've gotten on so well, and everything is spectacular. We spotted so much wildlife; on the first day at sea we saw our first whale, we've seen elephant seals, and countless penguins; I did not believe we'd see so much in such little time. The ship is great and we've grown used to our compact rooms and life at sea. So far the weather has been lovely, warmer than we'd all thought it would be. This trip is such an experience, a really once-in a lifetime opportunity, and as it has made such a big impact on our lives already that we wish to return one day soon.