I spend a lot of time on the Bridge when we’re at sea. Usually I’m looking for birds, but I also really enjoyed using the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye on my last subantarctic trip. As a result I have a lot of image sequences like this…so I thought I’d make the best one into a GIF! Excuse the jerkiness – I had to abandon steadying the camera for steadying myself half-way through the sequence (for obvious reasons – always have one hand for the ship). This is a nice mild day on the Southern Ocean – it looks impressive, but the swells were only around 7-8m, with occasional 10m waves coming through on our way to Macquarie Island. Unfortunately it didn’t improve much when we arrived (see this blog for more on that!).

Sea-sickness is pretty common on these voyages, but I manage mine to the extent that I’ve not once missed a meal. That said, the Bridge is a good place to be if you’re feeling a little woozy – being able to see the horizon and where you’re headed makes a great deal of difference! There’s usually a door open for some fresh sea air too. It’s preferable to laying on your bunk and praying for death at any rate. Unless the sea is rough enough that it’s recommended that your bunk is the best place to be – in that case, take the advice. It’s much harder to fall over and injure yourself when you’re lying down.

I often get asked if I ever get scared at sea. The answer at the moment is no – I’ve never been in conditions rough enough to concern me (although I have gone flying through a doorway once when my grip on the handle just wasn’t quite up to a sudden roll). But the thought of 19m swells (which have happened on trips like these) does make me nervous. I think it would make any rational person nervous. It’s something I’m prepared to live with to experience wild places like the Southern Ocean, though. I’d rather be on the ship than in an office any day.