Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales and Seals

Summary

Imagine sitting in a Zodiac or kayak in the waters off the Antarctic Peninsula in the company of marine mammal scientists, listening to whale sounds—sometimes haunting, sometimes melodic—from deep beneath the ocean surface. You, the guest, aren’t merely an observer; you’re a participant in citizen science. With the deployment of portable hydrophone units—just one aspect of the 11-day hands-on Antarctic Marine Mammals: The World of Whales & Seals—you’ll have access to an audio portal into the underwater world of the Antarctic Peninsula. In that moment, as you assist experts who are collecting data on various aspects of whale behavior, you are helping to protect one of the most majestic marine mammals to grace the Antarctic. Throughout this unique expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula and South Shetland Islands, guests will explore alongside Ari Friedlaender, founder of the Friedlaender Lab, a highly respected marine mammal research group at the University of California. Friedlaender co-developed this 11-day itinerary that will maximize migratory whale sightings, primarily minke, humpback and fin whales. Throughout the voyage, guests will learn from Friedlaender and his team, who focus on new biotelemetry technology to better understand the underwater behavior and ecology of whales. You will also have access to a research associate from Happywhale, the educational platform that engages citizen scientists to identify individual whale species for research and conservation purposes. A special component of this trip is the Science Hub, where you can engage with whale experts, contribute to citizen science projects, and ultimately play a vital role in conserving this pristine polar habitat for all marine mammals.