Arrival into Deception Island, Antarctica

By Jonny Blair


Deception Island is a totally magnificent place and this was another amazing journey on planet earth, almost James Bond style as we waited on deck. What lay ahead was the boat having to squeeze its way through a narrow passage called Neptune's Bellows so that we could get inside Deception Island. There was a sense of wonder all around.

It was cold and chilly on deck and a wee bit windy. A brave crowd had gathered on deck to view our narrow entrance through the slim channel into Deception Island.

The gap at the entrance to Deception Island in Antarctica is incredibly tight. Why? Because this island in Antarctica is shaped like a C. At least from a bird's eye view and it is deceiving hence the island's name. Our captain glided the boat calmly through!

Yes the entrance into Deception Island in Antarctica really is like going into a letter "c" and this made for a slowed down section of the amazing Antarctic adventure, it was another brilliant time to be out on the deck as the captain, from Bulgaria Asparuh Chorbadzhiev directed the boat through the narrow entrance called Neptune's Bellows.

While on board you don't always get the chance to visit the bridge of the vessel so this was a great chance to see the captain at work, doing an excellent job getting the boat through the narrow passage!

Our captain worked it well - using his experience to sail the ship rather easily through Neptune's Bellows and into Deception Island in Antarctica in front of a lot of the passengers and crew!

The location of Neptune's Bellows is near Port Foster at the entrance point to Deception Island in Antarctica. Deception Island itself is part of the South Shetland Islands. The geographic location is 63o 0 s, 60o 34 w and the bellows are named after Neptune, a Roman God of nature.

Despite strong winds, the captain steered the boat calmly through Neptune's Bellows and into Deception Island where a magical experience lay ahead. This was an amazing journey!




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