Paradise Bay, also know as Paradise Harbor is a wide embayment behind the Lemaire and Bryde Islands in Antarctica. We were here on a particularly awesome weather day. The skies were almost cloudless, the air temperature a very comfortable 30 degrees F (-1 degree C), and the winds calm. This was just a great day for kayaking, whale watching and a bit of exploring. After taking in some impressive whale watching, we made our way to an island playing host to the chinstrap penguins, as well as elephant seals and other animal life.
Our group photo was taken by my friend Brian Doyle. Truly an amazing summer day Kayaking in the Antarctic peninsula. So much so that I didn’t need to make use of the neoprene hand sleeves on the kayak’s paddle. Because the wind was virtually nonexistent the water was like glass and mirrored almost all the surrounding land and ice forms.Two hump-back whales are performing a synchronized swimming move just ahead of the kayak. So incredibly graceful are these creatures that the only thing one is able to hear as they pass by is their exhaling, which is quite loud. I am alluding to the whales of course, not the kayakers. Two of my follow “Yakers” photographing the whales in the background. These animals have powerful sonar. If they get close enough to capsize a kayak, it is because they plan to, thus it’s never an accident. However, they are quite docile unless provoked.
This is a demonstration of how the whales wave “bye-bye.” It is the payoff, as well as a view of how these creatures are tracked and charted. The underside of their tail is analogous to a human fingerprint. These whales travel thousands of miles throughout the oceans and are tracked and recorded in this way.
After about an hour or so kayaking we arrived here. This tiny island plays home to 3,000 breeding pairs of Chinstrap penguins, as well as some elephant seals. The sharp craggy rock cliffs were quite stunning. Note all the chinstraps at the top left of the image.Why the long face? This chinstrap penguin seems a bit down at the moment I captured the image. Although I would love to claim this as my own, however my new pal Brian Doyle captured this image. Not sure how loud this was, but based upon my experiences that day I can’t believe he was able to get this close. Their diet consists mostly of fish, squid, small sharks and octopus. They have also been known to enjoy a small penguin or two from time to time. This elephant seal is dwarfed by the whale rib in the foreground.Pictured above is another chinstrap penguin. This penguin seamed much happier than his cousin above on the snow. Note the algae on the rocks. In addition to its very important function and role in the eco-system here, it lends a beautiful contrast of color to this image.This water boat from the whaling days around the turn of the century (1900) is slowly decaying in the summer sun. Because of the severe cold here, the process of decomposition takes a bit longer. Again I am reminded of an industry that nearly made extinct the whale population in this part of the world.
