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Scuba Center Eagan 1571 Century Point Eagan, Minnesota 55121 (651) 681-8434 |
Scuba Center Minneapolis |
Antarctica Mar 18-28, 2027 *
 Let’s
start with polar diving is not for everyone. The conditions are
extreme but not unlike what we experience in the Midwest. For those
with cold water experience this is an amazing opportunity to explore a
unique and beautiful underwater ecosystem. Not a destination we often
travel to, this will be our 5th trip to Antarctica. Our travel partner
for all of these trips is Oceanwide Expeditions. They are specialists
in arctic travel. Our home for the 10-night stay is the
ice-strengthened vessel M/V Ortelius. This 300 foot vessel carries up
to 108 passengers, the majority of which are there to enjoy topside
attractions only and are not diving. Antarctica provides an excellent
opportunity for non-divers to join our group of divers. Non-divers
have many activities to choose from on this voyage. |
Ortelius
was originally the Marina Svetaeva. Built in Gdynia, Poland in 1989, it
served as a special-purpose vessel for the Russian Academy of Science. Later
it was re-flagged and renamed after the Dutch/Flemish cartographer Abraham
Ortelius. Ortelius is classed by Lloyd’s Register in London and flies the
Dutch flag.The vessel has the highest ice-class notation (UL1, equivalent to 1A) and is therefore suitable to navigate in solid one-year sea ice as well as loose multi-year pack ice. Ortelius can accommodate up to 108 passengers and has an abundance of open-deck spaces. It is manned by 24 highly experienced nautical crew members, 20 hotel staff, eight expedition specialists (one expedition leader, one assistant, and six lecturer-guides), and one doctor. All cabins are spacious outside cabins with a minimum of two portholes or windows per cabin. All cabins have private shower and toilet. Public spaces include an enclosed observation deck and bar as well as a restaurant.
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| Day 2 – 3: Path of the polar explorers Over the next two days on the Drake Passage, you enjoy some of the same experiences encountered by the great polar explorers who first charted these regions: cool salt breezes, rolling seas, maybe even a fin whale spouting up sea spray. After passing the Antarctic Convergence – Antarctica’s natural boundary, formed when north-flowing cold waters collide with warmer sub-Antarctic seas – you are in the circum-Antarctic upwelling zone. Not only does the marine life change, the avian life changes too. Wandering albatrosses, grey-headed albatrosses, black-browed albatrosses, light-mantled sooty albatrosses, cape pigeons, southern fulmars, Wilson’s storm petrels, blue petrels, and Antarctic petrels are a few of the birds you might see. |
| Day 4 – 8: Entering Antarctica Gray stone peaks sketched with snow, towers of broken blue-white ice, and dramatically different wildlife below and above. You first pass the snow-capped Melchior Islands and Schollaert Channel, sailing between Brabant and Anvers Islands. Sites you may visit include: Danco Island – Activities here may focus on the gentoo penguins nesting on the island, in addition to the Weddell and crabeater seals that can be found nearby. |
 Neko Harbour – An epic landscape of mammoth glaciers and endless
wind-carved snow, Neko Harbour offers opportunities for a Zodiac
cruise and landing that afford the closest views of the surrounding
alpine peaks.Paradise Bay – You may be able to take a Zodiac cruise in these sprawling, ice-flecked waters, where there’s a good chance you’ll encounter humpback and minke whales. Pléneau & Petermann Islands – If the ice allows it, you could sail through the Lemaire Channel in search of humpback and minke whales, as well as leopard seals. Port Lockroy – After sailing through the Neumayer Channel, you may get a chance to visit the former British research station – now a museum and post office – of Port Lockroy on Goudier Island. You may also be able to partake in activities around Jougla Point, meeting gentoo penguins and blue-eyed shags. At the nearby sites, such as Damoy Point there may be the opportunity for snowshoeing to the old ski-way, this is also one of our favorite camping sites. Wilhelmina Bay & Guvernøren – This is a great place to spot humpback whales. You also may embark on a Zodiac cruise ending at the ghostly wreck of the Guvernøren, a whaling vessel that caught fire here in 1915. Around the Melchior Islands, amid a frozen landscape peopled with icebergs, you may encounter even more whales, leopard seals, and crabeater seals. Charlotte Bay - We might encounter a variety of wildlife, including gentoo penguins, Weddell seals and possibly some migrating whale species such as humpback whales or minke whales. Conditions on the Drake Passage determine the exact time of departure. |
Day 1: End of the world, start of a journey Your voyage begins where
the world drops off. Ushuaia, Argentina, reputed to be the
southernmost city on the planet, is located on the far southern tip of
South America. Starting in the afternoon, you embark from this small
resort town on Tierra del Fuego, nicknamed “The End of the World,” and
sail the mountain-fringed Beagle Channel for the remainder of the
evening.During your dives you may encounter seals (especially the leopard seal) and penguins. On or near the bottom you may see squat lobsters, sea squirts, spider crabs, soft corals, anemones, sea butterflies, dogfish, several species of starfish, and more.
Because of the extreme conditions, Scuba Center will work with each diver to make sure that you are prepared for this adventure. We are fortunate to have Rob Leslie, (RJ), leading this trip. RJ is a staff course director at Scuba Center and has led multiple trips to Antarctica. Divers are required to have advanced certification or higher and have logged 30 cold water drysuit dives. Our local dive program is an excellent opportunity to build your numbers while enjoying the local underwater scenery. RJ will offer additional dive opportunities during the 2026 local dive season.
If visiting the seventh continent as a diver or non-diver is on your bucket list, this is a wonderful opportunity to travel with fellow Midwesterners to remote and beautiful Antarctica.
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All
meals throughout the voyage aboard the ship including snacks, coffee
and tea.-
Airfare -
Pre- and post- land arrangements.
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Passport and visa expenses.
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Government arrival and departure taxes.
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Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (which is strongly recommended).
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Excess baggage charges
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The customary gratuity at the end of the voyages for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided)
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Incidental charges: Individual group members will be responsible for their own charges including but not limited to beverages and bar bill, telephone, internet usage, sightseeing, equipment rental of any sort, gratuities, special day trips, and any other items of a personal nature.
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Scuba certification card and proof of scuba insurance required.
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Diving insurance mandatory for all diving guests. We recommend all divers purchase DAN membership.
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A passport is required for travel.
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Requirements: PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent - minimum 30 logged cold water drysuit dives.
| Dates: Mar 18-28, 2027* | ||||
| Trip Cost: | ||||
| Twin Porthole Cabin Diver: $10480 ppdo | ||||
| Twin Porthole Cabin Non-Diver: $9600 ppdo | ||||
| All rates quoted by Scuba Center include a 3% discount for cash/check payments. | ||||
| Registration: An application for this trip must be completed by each traveler at the time of registration. You may pick up a trip application at either store or print out our Scuba Center Trip Application. Complete the application and fax, mail or drop off in person with a $2000 non-refundable deposit per person. | ||||
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