Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1530268
30 | Antarctica Destination Guide preservation, taking food ashore is not permitted, and removing anything including rocks, feathers, bones, eggs or fossils is not permitted. Disturbing wildlife may constitute harmful interference, so any disruption is strictly forbidden. We travel along the Gerlache Strait, named in honour of Belgian expedition leader Adrien De Gerlache, who explored the region early in 1898 when his ship Belgica became trapped by ice floes. A main highway for whales, we saw many humpback and minke whales in the area. From our first night at the Melchior Islands in Dallmann Bay, and then cruising along the Gerlache Strait, we spend our days in different bays and harbours witnessing wildlife and the majestic surrounding scenery. ONBOARD TEAM OF EXPERTS The 30-plus Viking expedition team includes scientists, biologists, geologists specialising in ice, field researchers, a PhD student specialising in seaweed that only grows in Antarctica, able seamen that drive the Zodiacs, submarine pilots and kayak guides. They are all experts in their field as they take part in science projects across Antarctica. The covered in-ship marina called The Hangar holds all the toys, including my favourite, the Special Operation Boats, with a price tag of $1.2 million each. The fleet also includes Zodiacs and two of the six-seater $4.5 million piloted yellow submarines, with two on each expedition ship. The subs are affectionately named Ringo and George, as Viking founder and chairman Torstein Hagen loves the Beatles so much, he chose yellow for each submarine, a salute to his favourite band, and named them accordingly. We take a dive on the Ringo 200 metres below sea level, where we see a range of star fish, sponges and octopi. Experiments like the weather balloons are all part of a working relationships with partners like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and include the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University. A crowd of passengers gather on the top deck watching the weather balloon being released, which eventually made it to 25 kilometres above sea level, tracked and with all its data sent back to earth. The scientists on board use drifter buoys and FerryBox sensors to monitor, research, analyse HUMPBACK WHALE, ANTARCTICA