Saunders Island South Sandwich Islands

Silver Explorer arrived at Saunders Island, South Sandwich Islands, this morning at around 7.30 am.  As is usual, a scout boat with sonar equipment is sent out and then the ship moves closer to the shore if safe.  Very few ships come here, I think we are the first this year, so it’s a treat to go somewhere off the beaten track!  Conditions were favourable and so the Zodiacs were lowered and the first groups left for an hour’s excursion at 8.45 and we were in the second group. We were allocated a group by colour the first day and we’re red.  This all makes for a steady flow when leaving the ship.   

Saunders Island was discovered in 1775 by Capt Cook who named it for Sir Charles Saunders, First Lord if the Admiralty.  It’s a crescent shaped island lying between Candlemas and Montagu islands and is volcanic, composed of an active stratovolcano called Mount Michael.  Apparently it erupted explosively in 1819 and has erupted repeatedly since 2000, most recently in 2005.  The 700 m diameter summit crater is thought to possibly contain an active lava lake, one of only a handful in the world.  

The zodiac trip was fabulous, we were surrounded by sea life, little Chinstrap penguins darting everywhere, all in a hurry to get home and find their way up a massive hill or along the shore.  And of course they have to share with the thousands & thousands of seals.  The bird life was pretty impressive too. We went very close to a smallish iceberg and there were penguins on that.  Must admit they did look cleaner and less smelly than the ones on shore. The seas were reasonably calm although it was a bit hair-raising getting back on to the ship - those guys getting us on and off are heros!!!  

There are 100 staff on board the ship not including the Captain and officers.  The officers and expedition staff all eat with us in the dining room, the Captain too at times.  Captain Maggi is a tiny little thing, saw her the other day in high heels - was a bit surprised about that.  We don’t have any announcements from her, that is all done by the expedition leader, Stefan, or his staff.  

Last night’s dinner was very nice and we shared a table with a couple from New Hampshire, US, and Bruce and Carey from Bribie Island.  He is a retired Qantas pilot and she is Singaporean.  After dinner I went to the lounge where there is a pianist and there is always a bit of a sing-a-long.  Lydia, from California  and great fun, is like a magnet & she manages to gather everyone together.  She has the waiters at her beck & call & they all love her.  It’s amazing how many people have been to the Antarctic before but most haven’t been to South Georgia or the Sandwich Islands.  

I lost a pair of reading glasses yesterday,  think I must have dropped them on the deck yesterday in the wind & probably some old elephant seal is now seeing better.  Another man dropped his new iphone in the drink, too.