Navy vet Neil O'Connor was a guest aboard National Geographic Orion this past season. Here is the story of this 91 year old's poignant return to the island of Attu in the Aluetian Islands chain.
See spectacular wildlife photos taken aboard National Geographic Orion in the Bering Sea. National Geographic photographers captured brown bears, arctic fox, killer whales, bald eagles and many other animals in the region.
The islands and coasts that ring the Bering Sea are teeming with birdlife and fascinating land mammals like muskox, arctic fox, and brown bears; while the surrounding waters are churning with whales, seals, otters, and more.
Inhabited mainly by wildlife and strikingly picturesque, the Kuril Islands are a land of extremes—of snow and volcanoes, of sea lions and arctic foxes. Learn more about this remote and remarkable place.
Today, National Geographic Islander II arrived in the western realm of the Galápagos. Early in the morning, the ship circumnavigated Roca Redonda, a unique geological formation that hosts a large colony of seabirds due to the strong currents that bring nutrient-rich waters. Later, we changed locations to Punta Vicente Roca, one of the most spectacular visitor sites in the Galápagos Islands. It consists of the remains of an eroded volcano, creating dramatic cliffs and underwater caves. The area is also a great place for birdwatching, with species like blue-footed boobies, Nazca boobies, and flightless cormorants commonly seen. In the afternoon, we moved to Fernandina Island, famous for its dense colonies of marine iguanas, which bask in the sun along the lava rocks. This area showcases one of the most pristine environments in the Galápagos, as Fernandina is the youngest and most volcanically active island in the archipelago. We had an extraordinary day of exploration in the Galápagos Islands.
We had a very active start to our day with an added Mexican touch when our stretching class changed venue to the sand dunes of Isla Magdalena. It was a cloudy morning and as the sun rose, its beautiful gold rays permeated through a pocket in the sky. It didn’t take long to warm up, so we spent our time on the bow looking for wildlife. Our time paid off quickly and we had bottlenose dolphins hitching a ride off the bow of National Geographic Sea Bird several times throughout the morning as we navigated the Hull Canal. We also spotted grey whales so close to our ship that we could hear them breathe! The bird life in Magdalena Bay was so rich, as was the bird presentation of Naturalist Kim. Right after, we headed back to the bow to find frigatebirds, pelicans, cormorants, osprey, and herons dotting the landscape on either side of the canal as we navigated the narrowest areas of the bay. Our afternoon walk on the sand dunes took us to Sand Dollar Beach where we found how abundant yet discreet life in this ever-changing ecosystem can be.
Today on our second day aboard National Geographic Quest , we visited two incredible locations. In the morning, we explored Celestia Beach, a tranquil and untouched stretch of white sand, and guests took a short walk with our naturalists. This area is ideal for birdwatching, and we were fortunate enough to spot an elegant and gartered trogon perched in the magical forest. When we were back on the beach, the flat and refreshing waters invited us to swim and relax. In the afternoon, we ventured into the Palmares Mangrove Forest under a bright, sunny sky. The weather made for a perfect exploration, and we observed a range of bird species, including woodpeckers, herons, and flycatchers. The real highlight, however, was spotting a small American crocodile resting near the water's edge and a couple of crab-eating raccoons resting on the red mangrove trees. As the day ended, we returned to the ship and were received by a stunning sunset, a fitting end to a day full of discovery.
Welcome to the mystical islands of the Marquesas. It was beautiful to start our expedition adventures on National Geographic Orion in the Marquesas Islands. Today we explored the northern-most island of the Marquesas, Hatutaa, with Zodiacs rolling out at 6:30 a.m. to catch the early bird and witness the manta rays before sunrise. Guests were moved by the experience. We observed sooty terns, blue/black terns, brown boobies, lesser and greater frigatebirds, not to mention the spaceships of the ocean, the beautiful manta rays. In the afternoon, we visited Hatiheu on Nuku Hiva Island and took a tour of the sacred ground of Kamuihei, where guests were guided around this spiritual site. This was followed by a cultural performance by the local tribe. The beautiful night ended in the bay as the sun set behind the cliffs of Hatiheu.
We started the day under a beautiful sun while visiting a penguin colony, kayaking, and polar plunging. And that was only the morning activities! We could not have had a better start to our expedition. Mikkelsen Harbor was spectacular and the guests kayaked with a humpback whale around the bay. In the afternoon, we went Zodiac cruising in one of the most spectacular places in Antarctica, Spert Island, with its basalt columns and icebergs all around us. It was a full day of activities and all of them were absolutely amazing!