The Antarctic Dive Guide

About this book

The Antarctic Dive Guide is the first and only dive guide to the seventh continent, until recently the exclusive realm of scientific and military divers. Today, however, the icy waters of Antarctica have become the extreme destination for recreational divers wishing to explore beyond the conventional and observe the strange marine life that abounds below the surface. This book is packed with information about the history of diving in Antarctica and its wildlife, and features stunning underwater photography.

The Antarctic Dive Guide covers 31 key dive sites on the Antarctic Peninsula and South Georgia and includes maps and detailed guidance on how best to explore each site. Essential information is also provided on how to choose and prepare for travel to this remote region, and diving techniques for subzero waters. This book is an indispensable resource for anyone considering diving in Antarctica, and an exciting read for anyone interested in this little-explored underwater world.

This fully revised and updated third edition:
- Covers 4 new dive sites
- Features revised and updated information for the other 27 sites covered
- Includes new sections on the Sea Leopard Project and natural product chemistry from Antarctic marine organisms

Contents

Acknowledgements 5
A brief history of diving in Antarctica 6
The continent of Antarctica 9
Diving in Antarctica
Planning your visit 12
The practicalities 17
What to expect 23
Leopard Seals
- a scientific perspective 26
- a diver's perspective 32
The Sea Leopard Project 34
Underwater photography and videography in Antarctica 35
Other ways to capture the underwater realm of Antarctica 42
Common benthic life of the Antarctic Peninsula & South Georgia 44
Echinoderms (including sea stars, sea cucumbers, brittle stars and sea urchins) 44
Gastropods (including limpets and nudibranchs) 45
Ascidians (including tunicates and salps) 46
Worms 47
Fishes (including notothenids) 47
Cnidarians (including anemones, hydroids, jellyfish and soft corals) 50
Sponges 51
Algae 51
Sea spiders 52
Natural product chemistry from Antarctic marine organisms 53
THE DIVE SITES (see below for full list) 58
Guidance for visitors to the Antarctic 124
Marine Wildlife Watching Guidelines 126
Glossary 134
Photo credits 141
Suggested further reading 143
About the author 143
About the other contributors 144

THE DIVE SITES 58
How to use this guide 58
Key to icons used in the guide 58
DIVE SITES OF THE ANTARCTIC PENINSULA 59
1 Elephant Island, Point Wild 60
2 Tay Head 62
3 Paulet Island 64
4 Bald Head, Crystal Hill 66
5 Cape Well-met 68
6 Cecilia Island and Barrientos Island (Aitcho Islands) 70
Deception Island 72
7 Sewing Machine Needles (Deception Island) 73
8 Neptune's Bellows (Deception Island) 74
9 Whaler's Bay (Deception Island) 75
10 Mikkelsen Harbor 76
11 Hydruga Rocks 78
12 Enterprise Islands - Governøren Wreck 80
13 Orne Harbor 82
14 Cuverville Island 84
15 Neko Harbor 86
16 Paradise Harbor - 'The Shag Wall' 88
17 Port Lockroy (British Base A) 90
18 Janus Island, Arthur Harbor - Bahia Pariso 92
19 Booth Island 96
20 Pléneau Island 98
21 Petermann Island 100
22 Prospect Point (British Base J) - Perch Island 102
23 Détaille Island (British Base W) 104
24 Stonington Island (British Base E) 106
DIVE SITES OF SOUTH GEORGIA 109
25 Cooper Bay 112
26 Godthul 114
27 Grytviken, Cumberland East Bay 116
28 Hercules Bay 118
29 Prion Island 120
30 Albatross Island 120
31 Elsehul 122

Customer Reviews

Biography

Lisa Eareckson Kelley began working aboard Expedition ships in 2000. Most at home in the polar regions, she spends over half the year in the Arctic and Antarctic. During the Austral winter of 2010, she was the station manager at Palmer Station for the United States Antarctic Program. Passionate about the future of Antarctic and Arctic tourism, she is an active member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators and the Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators.