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After-Dinner Walruses
It seems luck was with us when Ortelius arrived at Ardneset on the southwest tip of Wahlbergøya. An announcement by expedition leader Rinie Maurs called our attention: A dozen male walruses had been spotted on a snow bank above the beach!
Captain Ernesto Barria Vargas rewarded
On Friday June the 26th, Captain Ernesto Barria Vargas, long time captain with Oceanwide Expeditions has been rewarded with a honorary reward.
Danger Beneath the Water: 10 Facts About Leopard Seals
If your sense of adventure takes you on an Antarctic cruise, you may be lucky enough to cross paths with a leopard seal. They’re amazing creatures to observe in and out of the water, and a quintessential aspect of an Antarctic experience.
The Giant Petrels of King George Island
With piercing grey eyes and a sharp tube-nosed beak, the giant petrel of King George Island is an impressive sight to behold.
Eight Engaging Reindeer Facts
When we think about reindeer, we might also think of Saami herders or the holidays or teams of these Arctic animals pulling a bell-covered sleigh across the nighttime sky. Only the first of these options, however, is something you're likely to encounter on an Arctic expedition cruise.
Not Eskimos: 10 Enlightening Facts About the Inuit
If you are going to participate in a cruise through the Antarctic or Arctic regions, you probably have an interest in the Inuit culture. To help you learn more about these people who you are likely to encounter if you visit Greenland, we present 10 interesting facts that everyone should know.
Polar bear feast
The bear had already started to strip off the seal skin, and began to eat the blubber: very rich in calories. A bearded seal can weigh up until 300 kg, and this one was indeed quite big, so after a while, the polar bear dozed off for a while. A power nap to digest the blubber...
A day in the life: Plancius surrounded by Bowhead Whales
This was just the beginning; it soon became clear that we had stumbled onto something very special as blows, backs and tails flukes were scattered all over the horizon. Over the next several hours we were surrounded by Bowheads.
Exceptional sighting of 80+ Bowhead Whales
On the North Atlantic Odyssey passengers on s/v Plancius counted 80 – 100 Bowhead Whales
Navigating by touch through the sea ice
“Speed?” questions the Officer of the Watch, not taking his eyes off the random pattern of floes and leads ahead. “3.6 knots” replies the helmsman. Ice navigation is not to be rushed. “Ok, Rudder Port 10 degrees” he orders.
Greenland: Where the Kayak Was Invented
The Inuit began using kayaks thousands of years ago for hunting, but the exact timeframe that these miniature boats come from is unknown. What we do know is that the earliest kayaks were made to fit only one person, and there were also two types that were utilized by the Aleut and Inuit tribes that lived in the Arctic region.
Birding Opportunities Abound in Spitsbergen
Seabirds are by the most common type of bird in Spitsbergen. Experts have estimated that there are 164 bird species that have been found throughout Spitsbergen at various points during recent history...
Ortelius, why are we going in circles?
It seemed as if the ship was not completely certain in which direction to travel, her nose testing the wind. To a certain extent that was the truth of the situation. We knew our destination to Svalbard and therefore the direction of travel should be north: but our ship didn’t know this, yet.
Meet Will Gilbertson, one of Oceanwide Expeditions’ field experts
Meet some of our ‘experts’, qualified expedition leaders and guides. Our friendly expedition staff, most of whom have been with the company for many years, will be anxious to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with their guests. They will share their knowledge in lectures on board during sea days and during field excursions; our guides come from all over the world and speak several languages.
Will Woolly Mammoths Once Again Roam the Arctic?
Imagine for a moment that you are on an arctic expedition and spot a woolly mammoth on land. This is something that has not been possible anywhere on earth for approximately 4,000 years, and the largest concentration of woolly mammoths died off 10,000 years ago.
Oceanwide at the Long Beach Scuba Show
Enjoy the seminars given by our Dive Master, Henrik Enckell. We will also discuss the special wildlife we encounters.
Life in a Penguin Colony
At a research station in Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands, scientists study how life is changing in local penguin colonies. Read this to learn more.
Arctic and Antarctic Basecamp Cruises – Choose Your Own Adventure
Each voyage uses one of our main ships as a main hub and from there passengers are able to launch into any one of a variety of activities, all of which are included (except polar diving).
Living the Antarctic Dream
From October to March, during the Austral summer, thousands of breeding Gentoo, Adèlie, and Chinstrap penguins travel to the Western Antarctic Peninsula to rear their chicks and fatten up on krill before the brutal winter sets in.
Gough Island: Seabird Capital of the South Atlantic
Gough Island is a remote volcanic island in the South Atlantic, uninhabited except for a small party of meteorologists and (sometimes) biologists. Set in the midst of the Roaring Forties, it is often buffeted by west winds and sea swells.
The Eight Great Penguin Species of Antarctica
There are 17 penguin species on the planet, but the eight most iconic reside in Antarctica, its nearby islands, and the sub-Antarctic archipelagos of South Georgia and the Falklands.
Greenland's History: When Vikings Ruled the Ice Age
Greenland’s history is filled with many fascinating tidbits that polar expedition participants enjoy learning about, but perhaps the most popular historical aspect is the fact that Vikings once ruled this land.
