The Sounds of Antarctica

We’ve just returned from our trip to the Antarctic Peninsular, this being my third opportunity to visit.

The trip was a collaboration between Sony Australia and Chimu Adventures but instead of being the lone Sony Advocate on the ship I was part of a team of 8 Ambassadors that all brought some guests with them. Basically, a Sony takeover!

What a wonderfully rich environment this provided. Not only did our guests have access to tuition and equipment but also conversation with other like minded guests and ship board photographers. With 70 dedicated photographers onboard, the ship stern often looked liked a firing range with all those tele lenses chasing the circling birds or inquisitive humpbacks

A couple of days to recuperate prior to the trip starting from the ferocious jet lag for those of us travelling from afar allowed us to visit the impressive Tierra Del Fuego National Park. I find myself easily forgetting about this wonderful part of Patagonia in the shadow of the boat trip, but it really is worth spending time exploring here.

I was aware that one of my lasting impressions from my previous trips was the need to allow  moments of stillness and immersion in this pristine ocean environment. We also had many in our group who preferred to let their iPhone camera be a sidekick instead of a main weapon. Very wise I think. If your camera is a source of stress for you when trying to manage new settings, then it’s not the right moment to be using it. Switch to auto I always say! As an avid daydreamer , the skill of immersing myself into the moment without worrying about technical mastery has been the key to creating expert pictures and Antarctica is the perfect place to allow oneself to daydream. I just love that i’ve been able to justify my ability to daydream…

So, daydream I did. Off the stern as the seabirds circled us; in the zodiac as we scooted across the silky smooth waters; or standing mesmerized as fat snow flakes fell upon the frazil ice below us. Antarctica is a place that invites no words, just stillness.

March is Autumn in Antarctica. Just as quickly as the snow has melted on the land, it falls again turning the slippery guano penguin poo mess into pristine prettiness. The penguin chicks are miserably moulting - awaiting those last adult feathers to appear, to make them watertight and able to withstand the frigid waters. They hang out in little nurseries miserable in numbers until the parents arrive with krill feed and then they spring to life. Their sounds are incessant as they communicate with their colony by honking and braying.

My humpback friends are here also. Even though its’ likely the whales found in this part of the Antarctica Peninsula migrate along the west South American coastline Its still very emotional to see them. Research trackers have clocked them doing up to  8461km each year with between 5-7 months without any food so it’s no wonder I saw them hanging about with very little activity at this time except to feed. It was heartwarming to see them display their usual inquisitveness by investigating our ship and blowing huge noisy blows that cut through the softly falling snow.

The ocean dominates everything here. The crack of a glacier calving is carried across the km’s making you think its right near by and then as the ocean settles into a silky smoothness even that is muffled by the falling snow but within minutes a building swell and wild wind whips up some glorious madness. A spectacle so mesmerising that its hard to drag yourself away when the captain wants to close the outer decks because the winds are now 40 knots and fairly dangerous (but you cant drag yourself away from that sunset light or the flight of the snow petrel enjoying those same wild winds). The noises of this wilderness will keep you captive and like me, wanting to come back again and again.

I dont think I will ever fill my cup when it comes to visiting Antarctica. Each trip has been vastly different either seasonally, or with wildlife activity or simply by the adventure provided. Early or late season -it’s all a wonderful excuse for escaping from real life for just a moment in time.

I’m going back in March 2026 on the Ocean Nova.
Message me if you’re keen to join in some immersive therapy.

Robin