Well, it lived up to its name. Paradise Bay was an oasis of peace, out of reach of the howling winds in the Gerlache Strait. The Captain nosed our ship into the cliff face, and we piled into the Zodiacs for a calm cruise.
The cliffs themselves were spectacular, streaked with orange lichen and the turquoise of copper deposits. There was even moss, vibrant green mounds clinging to the sheer rocks, in defiance of the thick ice that blanketed the surrounding mountains, photosynthesising furiously.
Our first stop was a lounging Leopard Seal, cuddling his little ice block pillow/teddy bear. Aww. That mouth hides teeth made for penguin-chomping!
Next we visited the Antarctic Shag colonies that line the cliffs. It’s nutrients from their guano that make the lichens so vigorous. Big, black, fluffy babies were harassing their parents for food. Some parents had up to three chicks! The fishing in the bay must have been good though. As well as the Shags fishing, there were big rafts of Gentoo penguins, and Minke Whales all over the place.
But for the throb of the Zodiac motors, Paradise Bay was still and quiet. It made it easy to hear blows as whales surfaced, and the splashes of swimming penguin rafts. We topped off this magical experience with Hot Chocolates from the ‘drive-through’, with added anti-freeze to keep us warm and limber.
I’ve already blogged about how wonderful cruising in a Zodiac is. It’s also when having a wide-ranging zoom like the 18-200mm is a great benefit! Light and versatile, perfect for glacial vistas and wildlife portraits.
