DIVE ADVICE TRAVEL - ARCTIC & ANTARCTIC

Dive Advice Travel

Customized, Personalized Dive Odysseys

Arctic and Antarctic

You can be one of just a handful of divers
to dive with Arctic Penguins and Leopard Seals.
It's a new frontier - and a world of incomparable beauty.

A note from Dom

There are scientists who tell us that both the Arctic & the Antarctic may be fast disappearing, which gives all of us
good reason to glimpse them while they are still at their finest - and then to spread the word, based on personal experience, about why it's so important to act responsibly to protect this fragile environment.

There are now more than 20 vessels that offer programs to the Antarctic Peninsula . . . and several that go to the Arctic . . . but if you only venture to either destination once in a lifetime, then you want to make sure you are on the right boat, with a small group and the best guides available.

I've been lucky to have long-term relationships with the operators listed on this page & I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that I'm recommending only the best to you.

If your interests lie strictly with naturalist trips, you may want to choose Oceanwide Expeditions.

For dedicated diving voyages, I recommend either Waterproof Expeditions . . . and for the truly intrepid & avid wildlife photographers, a trip with our friend, Amos Nachoum, on one of his heart-pounding Big Animals Epic Wildlife Expeditions might be just the ticket.

Read more about Waterproof Expeditions below and visit our page dedicated to Amos's trips by clicking here >>>

Cheers, Dom

ARCTIC AND ANTARCTIC
An Overview

Waterproof Expeditions

ANTARCTIC

Waterproof Expeditions effectively runs two trips, each with their own dedicated guide(s) - land trips & diving trips. For the topside explorers, this means much smaller groups on a landing site or on a zodiac cruise of an area than is normally possible.

For example, this last season there were between 10 & 16 guests on landings & zodiac cruises, compared with 45 or more for a 'normal' expedition vessel. And, there is always have a zodiac ready for those explorers who do not wish to dive, but who like to go for a long hike or take their time for topside photography.

For the advanced diver this is truly a unique experience. You will see amazing ice formations and marine life seemingly from another planet, such as the Giant Isopods and salps. Seals race fearlessly by & sunlight from above creates a stunning, ever-changing spectrum of color underwater. Take your time to explore an environment few diver have ever experienced: the kelp walls, sea snails, crabs, sea butterflies, Shrubby horsetails, jellyfish, squid, Sea hedgehogs, starfish, krill and various Antarctic fish.

The waters of the Southern Ocean also support an economically important world fishery of fin fish, squid and krill, and the waters of the Southern Ocean affect all other world oceans

The dive operation relies on more than 15 years of experiences in Polar diving and is organized by polar dive experts who have experienced many extreme situations in the field.

One of the most important elements is snorkelling, as some of the best encounters with large mammals, including Leopard seals and Humpback Whales, will be experienced through snorkelling.

For information on the vessel, click here >>>.

ARCTIC / SPITSBERGEN

For dive and photography expeditions to Spitsbergen Waterproof Expeditions uses ice-strengthened polar vessels for the exploration of Svalbard's environment. The trips offer diving, kayaking, and land expeditions. Truly a unique experience for the advanced divers, photographers and adventurous travellers.

As in the Antarctic, these trips are essentially two trips in one - each with their own dedicated guides. One trip is underwater for experienced polar divers and one is topside for the ‘explorers’.

For the 'explorers' the groups are delightfully small at a landing site or on a zodiac cruise, often between 10-20 guests, compared with 100 or much more for 'normal' expedition vessels.

For the advanced diver, Spitsbergen is an amazing experience. The kelp beds of north and east Spitsbergen offer protection to sea-bottom life such as sea anemones, sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, shrimps and fish.

Diving is in a controlled environment around small grounded icebergs, diving from the shore, a zodiac or an ice shell.

Waterproof Expeditions has exclusively developed the Padi Polar Diver Specialty, only available on our trips below 60 degrees south (Antarctica) and above the Arctic Circle.

ANTARCTIC 2011

Schedule and rates for 2011

04
15

Feb
Feb

2011
2011

Antarctica Dive & Photography Expeditions

» M/V Polar Pioneer

Triple Standard cabin	4335	EUR
Twin Standard cabin	5395	EUR
Twin Private cabin	6160	EUR
Mini Suite	6765	EUR
Suite	7390	EUR
Dive Package	825	EUR

15
26

Feb
Feb

2011
2011

Antarctica Dive & Photography Expeditions

» M/V Polar Pioneer

Triple Standard cabin	4335	EUR
Twin Standard cabin	5395	EUR
Twin Private cabin	6160	EUR
Mini Suite	6765	EUR
Suite	7390	EUR
Dive Package	825	EUR

Rates include	- Accomodation in twin cabin and full board while on the vessel - Dive compressor, tanks, weights and belts (you need to bring your own personal dive gear) - Leadership by our experienced Expedition Leader and Polar Dive Master - All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program
Rates do not include	- International or domestic flights - Excess baggage charges on flight - Your personal dive equipment - All items of a personal nature such as laundry, meals ashore, bar, beverage and telecommunication charges - Gratuities - Pre- and post-voyage packages with air and hotel available upon request
Notes	Rates are per person based on twin occupancy. Single cabins are available at 1,7 rate. All cabins are smoke-free. Emergency evacuation insurance and dive insurance is mandatory

For information on the vessel, click here >>>.

Photo credits below: Walrus, Magnus Elander; Photographer & Seal, Goran Ehlme; Hydrozoaires, Francois Deriberolles;

SPITSBERGEN - 2010

The Arctic is a place where everything seems bigger, glaciers mirror the sunset, setting fire to mountain tops and nothing can prepare the traveler for his or her first sight of the indisputable King of the Arctic on the sea ice: the Polar Bear.

Waterproof is offering ten-night circumnavigations of Norway’s Svalbard archipelago and the trips are designed for both the diver and exploration-oriented non-diver, as well. All excursions provide incomparable experiences above and below water.

08
18

Jul
Jul

2010
2010

Circumnavigating Svalbard

Aboard: M/V Polar Pioneer

Triple Cabin	3435	EUR
Standard Cabin	4265	EUR
Twin Private Cabin	4920	EUR
Superior Cabin	5515	EUR
Suite	5930	EUR
Diving Package	625	EUR
Kayaking Package	560	EUR

18
28

Jul
Jul

2010
2010

Circumnavigating Svalbard

Aboard: M/V Polar Pioneer

Triple Cabin	3435	EUR
Standard Cabin	4265	EUR
Twin Private Cabin	4920	EUR
Superior cabin	5515	EUR
Suite	5930	EUR
Diving package	625	EUR
Kayaking package	560	EUR

Contact Dive Advice for details.

Phototographers: Magnus Elander (zodiac) Rinie van Meurs (bears) Peter Szyszka (boat & mountains) Goran Elhme (seal)

Oceanwide Expeditions

Oceanwide Expeditions will take you to the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

You can expect to see many of the arctic creatures on these expeditions, including polar bears, various species of whales, penguins, seals, walrus and plenty of sea birds.

The expedition ships are specially built for arctic conditions and carry all the most updated technology to safely navigate through the icy waters. You’ll be ferried to land & sea destinations on Zodiacs and your guides will always be searching for great photo sites for you.

Oceanwide is a member of the International Association of Antarctic Tour operators (IAATO), a member organization founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private sector travel to the Antarctic.