Diary of a Journey under the World – Part 6 – Sims Island

David travelled aboard the magnificent Le Commandant Charcot by PONANT Cruises earlier this year on a half circumnavigation trip from Ushuaia, Argentina to New Zealand and what follows are his notes and highlights of a once in a lifetime trip to Antarctica in 2023.

David Heydon has been many things, nominated for Australian of the Year in 2016, the 2012 recipient of the Moore Medal, and a deep seabed mining pioneer. Most days David would be one of the expert naturalist guides aboard a ship, but today he is a guest on the Le Commandant Charcot. 

David is an expedition cruising veteran, one who is uniquely specialized in the Polar. His extensive geological knowledge provides welcome insight into these regions’ many fjords and glaciers. 

Day 8

David is now in territory that he has never seen before. Aboard the Le Commandant Charcot, they are now heading around the Antarctic Peninsula towards New Zealand, they are as far South on the globe as you possibly can be on the water.

As you might expect, temperatures are a little cold, reaching down to about -14 degrees Celsius in the wind. 

The next destination is a rather small place, Sims Island. It’s a small volcanic plug, about 70 hectares large, but it’s a paradise for local penguin and bird populations. 

David says he’s a little jealous of the Expedition team, who are the first to head towards Sims Island to secure a suitable landing site. He has to remind himself he is only a passenger on this trip! 

When it’s the passengers turn to head to the island, David dons the appropriate amount of clothes (hint: it’s a lot), and departs. 

On the island they find all manner of penguins and seals.

continued in Part 7 coming soon…