A short distance from the Lemaire Channel, Petermann island is a frequent destination for tourists as it offers a landing, historical importance and a significant number of Penguins. Under the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators (IAATO) agreement, only 100 people can land at any one location in the Antarctic. Our vessel was 121 tourists, and each boat of 8 needs a driver, plus a few additional expedition members.

Experience

The original plan was to have a scientific survey on a zodiac and one or two zodiacs out on an exploration. Still, far too many penguins prevented this at the landing site for us to be able to fit a hundred people. In addition, we were in the Antarctic towards the end of the moulting season, so adults and chicks were on land, not quite ready to take to the ocean. So to address this, half of us did a Zodiac Exploration and half landing with us swapping over.

Gerlach was last called my group, so we explored the islands waters in a zodiac first. We saw some fantastic scenery, though the weather was somewhat grey and cloudy as well as quite a few penguin colonies on the rocks around us. We also saw, in the distance, some crabeater seals, but they were silhouettes against the bright snow backgrounds.

Port Circumcision was named for the Feast of the Circumcision by the crew of the Pourquoi Pas when they wintered on Petermann Island. On the rock wall, we saw the landing the carving "PP", done by the crew 112 years before.

On the southern tip of Port Circumcision sits Groussac Refuge, an Argentine Naval refuge, recently repainted in their traditional orange and past that building. On the higher rocks stands a cross commemorating three members of the British Antarctic Survey. They died in a 1982 attempt to cross the sea ice from Petermann to Faraday Station.

I stepped onto Antarctic soil for the first time. Before I turned forty, every continent on earth had felt the touch of my feet.

The guides had placed a series of flags from the landing zone to the base of the penguin colony, and guests must stay close to them to keep the penguins calm. If the birds wish to approach us, they can and do, Gentoo is curious birds, but tourists are not to disturb them.

Skua circled the islands looking for unprotected chicks to snatch away.

One landing and attempting to feast on the metal pole of a flag.

There were so many penguins and older chicks, most in various stages of moulting.

Gentoo Penguins are surprisingly vocal, crying out at the sky and each other. But, occasionally comical as they slide across smooth stone or ice, they're also graceful, even on land.

One penguin singled me out and came within half a meter of me before walking past. As a result, I was able to capture the penguins face in great detail.

The most memorable encounter for our group, which divided our perspectives was the sight of a single young Gentoo chick, bedraggled and bloody, who a skua was stalking. His protector was a young penguin who the birds had corralled into the chicks proximity. If the Skua had been willing to back off, the chick would most likely have been left alone by the adult penguin to be easy prey.

The Skau was unwilling to give that much space maybe miss a meal. When we left, all guides agreed he was on borrowed time. Many of the group had wished to scare the birds off to give the chick a chance. Others recognised the birds' desire to eat.

Wildlife

Gentoo Penguins

Antarctic Shag

Skua

Crabeater Seals

Location

A short distance from the Lemaire Channel, Petermann island is a frequent destination for tourists as it offers a landing, historical importance and a significant number of Penguins.

65° 11' 26 S 64° 08'11W

Petermann Island