This morning National Geographic Resolution entered the Weddell Sea after transiting the Drake Passage yesterday. We arrived at Devil Island just after lunch. This is it, our first day ashore on the white continent. Devil Island offered us two different excursions: a Zodiac boat ride around the island and through the ice, or a steep hike up to the top for a beautiful view of the horizon. There was an Adelie penguin colony on the island, and we were excited to get our first glimpses of these “tuxedo”-wearing birds. It was a great start to our epic expedition. And to finish off the evening, we witnessed an incredible sunset as the sun slowly dipped behind the ice.
2/17/2025
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National Geographic Resolution
At Sea
A day was spent at sea on National Geographic Resolution as the expedition to Patagonia and Antarctica approaches the end with our navigation across the Drake Passage to Ushuaia. It is a time for reflection for all those on board to refresh their memories and to view their photographs of the dramatic landscapes and the diverse wildlife we have witnessed while visiting these special places on our planet. We have been blessed with the weather over the last several weeks and, today, the Drake Passage is in a calm state in terms of swells, less than 2 meters. Several long-finned pilot whales were spotted from the bridge and, so too, five species of petrel and a light-mantled albatross. Fin whales, killer whales, and hourglass dolphins were also spotted. During the day, guests enjoyed a number of presentations, including “Tectonic Accidents-The geology of Antarctica” by Jackie Windh and “The Mighty Krill” by Anne Hedlund. Captain Martin Graser gave a presentation on the design and building of National Geographic Resolution , while our photographic team, led by Alex Joseph and Jennifer Davidson Meadows, compiled guests’ photographs for inclusion in the end of voyage slideshow that is planned for tomorrow evening.
