Before setting out to Antarctica in 1914 on his ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, better known as the Endurance expedition, legend tells that Sir Ernest Shackleton placed an open call to aspiring polar explorers to join his crew. His advertisement, most likely fictional, stated:
"Men Wanted: For hazardous journey. Small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in case of success."
This brief note, even if apocryphal, evokes the daring spirit and stoicism required to venture into the unknown regions at the very ends of the Earth during the last years of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. To take such a journey was to step almost blindly into an otherworldly landscape, ever-evolving and utterly inhospitable and alien. It was to come face to face with sea monsters and hear the cries of sea birds yet known to science. To be enthralled by cathedrals of ice and navigate flotillas, canyons, and tunnels as icebergs shifted in their thousands. It was to enter a region of the Earth where you were entirely dependent on yourself and your comrades for survival, with the understanding that at any moment, your lifeline to civilization could be severed forever.
Picture by Andrew Peacock
Today, many of the challenges faced by the men of the Endurance have been mitigated by modern technology. Wooden-hulled vessels are supplanted by purpose-built icebreakers, or ice-strengthened hulls, and coal-fired bunkers by diesel engines. Expeditions to the Antarctic regions no longer operate in true isolation thanks to modern satellite systems, and the harsh existence of life aboard a 19th—and 20th-century expedition vessel has been replaced by an altogether more comfortable modern onboard experience.
On an Oceanwide Expedition ship, you will find a comfortable, inviting environment that, while not too luxurious, is perfect for retaining the feel of an expedition while providing all the necessities you will need at the edges of the world. You can use complimentary Wi-Fi, or visit the bar for refreshments. The bridge is often open, while deck spaces are yours to explore, making wildlife encounters dynamic while onboard, no matter where you stand.
Picture by Andrew Peacock
Despite the comfort of our modern vessels, Antarctica remains inherently alien, full of natural beauty and atmospheric phenomena not found anywhere else on our planet. Existing in such a place is still a battle against nature's dominance over humankind, and the dangers of shifting ice, unpredictable weather shifts, and the natural order of the world's most remote and inhospitable continent make visiting it life-changing and a badge of honor for many each year.
But why visit the Antarctic region? Unlike those from the ages of Antarctic exploration past, modern visitors will not find themselves venturing blindly into the unknown. Instead, they will experience a landscape almost untouched by the modern world, guided by experienced crews and expedition teams. They will see the same sights as those before them, be called onto deck by the same cries of snow petrels and be greeted by curious colonies of penguins. They will witness the shifting cities of ice and the dance of survival orchestrated by leopard seals and orcas below, not with apprehension but with wonder.
Picture by Andrew Peacock
Antarctica is special. It is a land of glaciers, volcanoes, mountain ranges and vast snow-covered ice shelves. It boasts one of the world's Seven Summits, Vinson Massif, and one of the world's largest and most mysterious lakes, Lake Vostok. It is the coldest, windiest and driest continent and is home to some of the most iconic animals known to modern science. A trip to the Antarctic means the opportunity to view, photograph and document some of our most exotic and endangered species, such as humpback and blue whales, or come face to face with iconic emperor penguin colonies ashore.
Antarctica means something different for different people. Some choose to visit to follow in the footsteps of their adventurous heroes, whilst others venture south to realize their dreams of seeing certain wildlife species against the backdrop of the ice continent. Many go to push their limits and to round off or start their bucket lists. The presence of the modern world remains small, with no permanent settlements or residents, but its slow advance is felt ever more strongly with each passing year.
Picture by Andrew Peacock
A trip to Antarctica with Oceanwide Expeditions continues to embody adventure, daring, and the spirit of the golden days of Antarctic exploration. It is a wild, untamed region where humankind can see its place in the natural world, and a visit, no matter how short, will leave you forever changed.
Perhaps, if published today, Shackleton's apocryphal message would instead read:
"Adventurers Wanted: For life-changing journey. Expect cold, wonder, indescribable sights, invaluable experience and a voyage into the last true frontier. Adventurers Wanted: Antarctica Calls."
To chart your own Antarctic adventure, and start your voyage to the icy edges of the map, book your place aboard an expedition cruise to Antarctica today, and discover an experience beyond even your wildest dreams!
Main image by Andrew Peacock
