Andre Shirley

Turn left after South America: Antarctica Andre Shirley

Although diving in the Antarctic was a special event, it was by no means the only attraction of my trip. Just being on the bottom edge of the world in the beautiful blue vastness is so special one cannot put it in adequate words. The journey to get there was part of the equation and the minute I stepped foot on the first leg of my journey my trip began. Even though I have travelled far and wide, this trip made me realise just how small humans are in the greater equation. Every day was broken up into variable sections of different exposures to the unique environment. Diving certainly had its glorious moments, but above water by no means took a second place. There were so many firsts... the first time we saw and touched an iceberg, the first time we bobbed between chunks of ice in a rubber boat, then bobbing around in chunks of ice whilst in the water. The first time we dived next to an iceberg, the first time we sailed over the Arctic Circle, the first time setting foot on the peninsula. Then there was the wildlife; penguins everywhere, Leopard seals, whales, birds. Our visits to two of the stations was interesting, especially as the people manning them were so different in character. This is a trip I would recommend to anyone.