Antarctica

This is an exclusive trip with a focus on Snorkeling & Photography 2026-27

On 29 Dec 2026-09 Jan 2027, we have a very special tour for snorkelers and photographers who want to visit Antarctica and join our photographic workshop to help improve their skills and experience one of the most beautiful destinations on the planet. Join us on the MV Sylvia Earle in Antarctica for this adventure of a lifetime. We will be snorkelling on the ice, observing the wildlife up close and personal and learning how to take that perfect photo.

Antarctica is one of the last, great untamed continents on planet Earth. It is a definite bucket list experience. Antarctica, the southernmost continent and site of the South Pole, is a virtually uninhabited, ice-covered landmass. You will cross the infamous Drake Passage and set foot on the Antarctic Peninsula, explore ice-dotted bays by zodiac and get up close with penguins, seals, seabirds and migrating blue and humpback whales. This expedition brings together those with a curiosity about the world around them, a keen sense of adventure, and a desire to immerse themselves in the natural environment. It truly is a trip not to be missed. A once in a lifetime opportunity!

Dates: 29 Dec – 09 Jan 2027
Duration: 12 Days
Starts & Ends: Ushuaia (Argentina-South America)
Ship: MV Sylvia Earle
Activities: Wildlife, landscape & underwater photography and snorkelling.

Highlights

This is an exclusive small group trip onboard one of the best expedition ships in Antarctica. The comprehensive program will be full of polar activities and excursions to view the unique wildlife found in this part of the world. Enjoy lectures on photography and wildlife, while getting involved in some citizen science initiatives.

Snorkeling in Antarctica with seals, whales and penguins
Exploring the landscape surrounded by icebergs and an abundance of wildlife
See and hear the busting activity of a penguin city
Chance to spot leopard seals on ice floes from the zodiacs
Zodiac-cruise in search of feeding and breaching whales
Take on the exhilarating polar plunge
Photography workshops with international award winning wildlife photographer Scott Portelli

NOTE: for snorkelers, we recommend you have cold water snorkeling experience before entering the water in the polar regions.

Included:

Complimentary pre-departure information
All meals and drinks onboard during the voyage
Port taxes and charges
All entry fee to historic landing sites
Airport transfers
Step ashore in Antarctica, the last great wilderness
Photography workshops with international award winning wildlife photographer Scott Portelli

Exclusions:

International or domestic flights to/from port
Airport arrival or departure taxes
Visa, passport, and vaccination charges
Travel insurance and emergency evacuation coverage
Hotels and meals not included in the main itinerary

CABIN

PRICE PER PERSON

Stateroom Triple Share

Stateroom Twin Share

USD $TBA

Balcony Stateroom C

Balcony Stateroom B

USD $TBA

Balcony Stateroom A

Balcony Superior

USD $TBA

Snorkeling Supplement (From US$695 pp)

To register your interest to join us in Antarctica for this once in a lifetime experience contact me

Group Leaders

We are looking forward to sharing this unforgettable experience with you. Please refer to the testimonials page for comments on other marine expedition trips. If you have more questions please contact us via the website.

Scott Portelli

Scott Portelli is an international award-winning wildlife, nature and underwater photographer.

Scott Portelli is an international award-winning wildlife, nature and underwater photographer. A member of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography (AIPP) and is regarded as a leading professional in his field. Scott has spent thousands of hours in remote locations across the globe filming and photographing nature, wildlife, the underwater environment and wild places.

He was recently announced the winner in the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2021, and has previously been awarded winner in the animal behaviour category in 2017 and 2019. He was awarded 1st Place Winner as part of a team representing Australia at the World Photographic Cup 2021. Also included in his accolades he was announced winner at the
GDT Nature Photographer of the Year 2021 in the Other Animals category. He was also awarded Winner in the Human & Oceans category at the Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year awards 2021 and winner at Travel Photographer of the Year 2015 & 2018 and runner up in the landscape category in 2020. Some of his more noteworthy awards included being awarded at the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the year in London in 2016 and announced National winner of the Sony World Photography awards 2016.

Scott has spent over a decade working in the polar regions with a focus on Antarctica and the Sub-Antarctic areas producing a unique portfolio of fine art photography that showcases the intricate environment and its intriguing inhabitants. Working in extreme conditions, Scott’s photography provides a rarely seen glimpse above and below the surface in some of the harshest places on the planet.

Amanda Delaforce

Amanda is a marine biologist and wildlife ecologist having worked across both NSW and QLD Marine Parks (Australia) over the last 25 years.

Amanda is a marine biologist and wildlife ecologist with over 25 years of experience working in the marine parks of New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. She has participated in various research projects focused on humpback whales along the East Australian Coast, including areas such as Eden, Port Stephens, the Sunshine Coast, and Hervey Bay.

Her journey began in 2000 when she started leading tour groups to Tonga. Since then, Amanda has been dedicated to filming, photographing, and recording the behaviours of humpback whales. Amanda offers unique marine encounters across seven different countries, where she takes guests diving and swimming with various marine species, including humpback whales, manta rays, whale sharks, dolphins, and both reef and oceanic sharks. Participants can also experience the beauty of stunning coral communities and vibrant fish in remote locations. She is knowledgeable and provides invaluable information during expeditions, both through presentations and while in the field. Amanda holds a coxswain’s certificate and has been a divemaster for over 23 years.

In addition, she collaborates closely with marine conservation and citizen science groups in Australia and around the world, such as Grey Nurse Shark Watch Australia, Manta Project Australia, Maldives Manta Trust and the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme.

Amanda is a passionate underwater marine and wildlife photographer; countless dives and ocean encounters means she knows where to look for inspiration. She has a genuine love and admiration for animals she encounters which are reflected in the experiences she shares with others.

This is her first trip to this amazing location and has been a dream trip for many years. I hope you are as excited as she is to take you on this unforgettable journey. Follow her on Instagram, check out her photography and shop page on her website.

Itinerary (Sample Only)

Day 1 – Arrival
Arrive from your international flight in Ushuaia. Settle into your accommodation and relax after your international flight. It is a good idea to give yourself some time to settle into a new timezone. Having made your way to Ushuaia, you will be met and transferred to our group hotel. Check-in is from 3.00 pm. This afternoon, visit the Aurora Expeditions hospitality desk in the hotel lobby, between 3.00 pm and 7.00 pm, to collect your luggage tags, and confirm if you wish to join our Lake Escondido pre-embarkation tour tomorrow. Our team will confirm details regarding your embarkation day, answer any questions and provide you with information. This evening, enjoy a light refreshment as you meet your fellow expeditioners at a Welcome Reception. Afterwards, dine at your leisure (dinner not included).

Days 2 – Embarkation
This morning, enjoy breakfast and check-out. Please ensure your cabin luggage is fitted with cabin tags clearly labelled with your name and cabin number. Take your cabin luggage to hotel reception, prior to, or at check-out. Your luggage will be stored and transferred directly to the port for clearance, to be placed in your cabin ahead of your arrival on board. Please keep any valuables or personal items with you throughout the day.

Those wishing to join our Lake Escondido tour today, please meet in the hotel lobby at 8.45 am. This tour offers us an unforgettable panoramic drive through big valleys of glacial origin, evergreen and deciduous forests, waterfalls and rivers, in the vastness of the Andes Mountain Range. We will leave Ushuaia city to the northeast of Tierra del Fuego, driving through peat bog valleys to reach Garibaldi Pass, only accessible by a winding road that will take us to a panoramic point. From here we will have amazing panoramic views of Lake Escondido and, if weather conditions allow, of Fagnano Lake. We will start our descent towards the northeast to reach Fagnano Lake’s shore where we will visit a local ranch. After appreciating the landscape, you will have the chance to enjoy the typical Fuegian Lamb barbecue. Enjoy some free time there before returning to Ushuaia for ship embarkation (approx. 3-4pm – to be advised).

Alternatively, enjoy your day at leisure and meet at your hotel lobby or from the meeting point at the parking lot near the pier, to be transferred to the pier for embarkation. Once onboard, you’ll have time to settle into your cabin before our important mandatory briefings. As the ship pulls away from port, we’ll gather on the deck to commence our adventure with spectacular views over Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. This evening, get to know your fellow expeditioners and friendly expedition team and crew at a welcome dinner to celebrate the start of a thrilling adventure to Antarctica.

Day 10-11 – Drake Passage Crossing

Enjoy a final morning landing in the South Shetland Islands before we re-enter the Drake Passage for our return journey to South America.

With lectures and film presentations to complete our Antarctic experience, there is still plenty of time to enjoy the magic of the Southern Ocean and the life that calls it home. There is time for reflection and discussion about what we have seen and experienced. As we approach the tip of South America, our Captain may sail close to legendary Cape Horn, weather and time permitting.

Day 12 – Disembark in Ushuaia

During the early morning, we cruise up the Beagle Channel, before quietly slipping into the dock in Ushuaia, where we will be free to disembark around 8.00 am. Farewell to your expedition team and fellow passengers as we all continue our onward journeys, hopefully with a newfound sense of the immense power of nature. Upon disembarkation, for those continuing their travels in the region, transportation to the hotel will be arranged exclusively for guests who have booked their accommodations through Aurora or for those staying in downtown areas near the port. Expeditioners departing on flights prior to 12.30 pm will be directly transferred to Ushuaia Airport, those with flights after 12.30 pm will have the opportunity to explore Ushuaia before an afternoon airport transfer, and the transfer procedures and details will be communicated onboard before disembarkation.

How to Secure Your Booking

Please note that this trip has limited spots, so you will need to get in quick to secure your booking. The following payments will be required:

Deposit (non-refundable): $2500.00 USD

We will be in touch via e-mail for your payment, invoices will be email out via the booking platform. We would recommend purchasing your flights as soon as possible to secure a cheap flight. To check on available spaces to secure your spot email: amanda@amandadelaforce.com

Please note that all of our itineraries are at the mercy of weather conditions and not all landings are guaranteed. Our itineraries are flexible and will change voyage to voyage, allowing the best chance to make the most of surprising wildlife displays and unexpected opportunities.

Days 3-4 – Drake Passage Crossing
As we commence the Drake Passage crossing, we make the most of our time getting comfortable with the motions of the sea. Our expedition team prepare you for our first landing with important wildlife guidelines and biosecurity procedures and start our lecture program to help you learn more about Antarctica’s history, wildlife and environment.

Our wildlife experiences begin as we enjoy watching and photographing the many seabirds, including majestic albatrosses and giant petrels following our vessel. On sea days, you may can enjoy the facilities on board the vessel including the gym, wellness centre or the relaxing in one of the observation lounges.

Days 5 to 9 – Antarctic Peninsula
We explore the Peninsula’s west coast, with the frenzied activities of penguin parents and chicks as the summer days begin to shorten. Cormorant chicks bravely making their first flights from sea cliffs. Zodiac cruise amongst ice floes replete with basking Weddell and leopard seals and revel in unparalleled beauty of Antarctica’s landscape.

It is almost impossible to describe the feeling of arriving in Antarctica. Spotting your first iceberg and taking a deep breath of some of the most fresh, crisp air on earth is an experience that will stay with you forever.

Once we arrive, the western side of the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands are ours to explore, and we have a host of choices available to us. Because we are so far south, we will experience approximately 18-24 hours of daylight and the days can be as busy as you wish.

Your experienced expedition team, who have made countless journeys to this area, will use their expertise to design your voyage from day to day, choosing the best options based on the prevailing weather, ice conditions and wildlife opportunities.

We generally make landings or Zodiac excursions twice a day. You will want to rug up before joining Zodiac cruises along spectacular ice cliffs or among grounded icebergs, keeping watch for whales, seals and porpoising penguins. Zodiacs will also transport you from the ship to land, where you can visit penguin rookeries, discover historic huts and explore some of our favourite spots along the peninsula.

While ashore we aim to stretch our legs, wandering along pebbly beaches or perhaps up snow-covered ridgelines to vantage points with mountains towering overhead and ice-speckled oceans below. If you have chosen an optional activity, you will have the option to do participate in the activity whenever conditions allow, and of course keen polar plungers will have the chance to fully immerse themselves in polar waters – conditions permitting! The polar plunge can take place at any time during the voyage, so listen out for the announcement from the expedition team and get ready for the most exhilarating dip of your life!

Top 5 tips for underwater polar photography

Photographing in 1-degree water can be challenging for any underwater photographer, but there are a few things that you can do to ensure the best results in the harsh conditions.

Bubbles on your dome port – In cold water bubbles will continually form on the dome port as the cold water aerates the glass or acrylic port. This can ruin some amazing photos as they are very difficult to remove in post-production.

So a few simple tips.

Have a tube of mask anti-fog gel or liquid and coat the surface of your dome port before you get into the water. This will help reduce the aeration on the dome port. If you are doing split shots, you might also want to ensure there is a layer on your dome so the water beads off the glass better and you reduce water blotches in your photos.
Be conscious that the aeration bubbles will form on the lens and carry a small chamois cloth or use your gloves to brush the surface of your dome regularly while in the water. If you get into the practice of checking your dome regularly, you will reduce the chance of a photograph covered in air bubbles.

Lens fog/condensation – the warm and the cool air will create condensation inside the housing and your camera which may fog your lens or dome port, try and set up the camera in a consistent temperature and avoid opening the camera housing until the equipment has returned to room temperature. You can avoid damaging your equipment by simply making sure the environment you are working maintains a consistent temperature when assembling your gear.

Keep your batteries warm – before you set up your camera and get underwater, make sure your batteries are fully charged and keep them warm as long as you can before you assemble your camera and underwater housing. Battery life is dramatically reduced in low temperatures, so make sure you have plenty of spare batteries readily available. When you are out on the water diving, keep a dry bag with you with any spare equipment you might need, as you never know when you might need to change a battery or card. However in most cases you want to avoid opening the housing and camera on the water, as it only takes a few drops of salt water to damage your equipment.

Checklist – set yourself a simple to follow checklist to avoid issues and mistakes before getting in the water, because once you are underwater there is not much you can do if you have mistakenly put the camera together incorrectly or forgotten a crucial part. And always test your camera equipment and lighting/strobes on the surface before you hit the water. Some things to avoid and what I put on my checklist:

Manual focus is off on your lens and auto focus is working for the chosen lens. I have been shooting star shot the previous night and had my camera set to manual and my ISO very high and my lens on manual focus, then put it into the housing and been underwater only to realise when I returned to the surface that nothing was in focus. Some housings may have the ability to change the focus manually but in an environment such as Antarctica you need to be reactive and have your equipment optimized for the shooting opportunities.
This is one mistake I have made on a few occasions, leaving the lens cap on the camera inside the underwater housing. You find it strange that everything is black. Once you are underwater there is nothing you can do about this without resurfacing and taking a risk in opening your underwater housing on a moving boat. Definitely add this to your checklist.
Dust on inside of the dome – It sounds simple, but check the inside of your dome to make sure there are no loose dust particles moving around. Yes, these can be removed in post-production if you are shooting stills, but it is almost impossible to remove marks when you are shooting video. This is the difference between a nice crisp visual that people enjoy watching or a mark on the video that you can’t help but notice that ruins your beautiful video.
Memory card is empty and ready to shoot – it is easy to forget to delete or format a memory card before each shoot and then realise after you have shot a few hundred frames that you are running out of space. Always back up your cards after each dive and ensure a clean memory card is ready for each time you get in the water. Also some cameras will let you shoot without the memory card, I always turn this feature off, as this is a mistake you can’t afford to make
Check your o-rings on your camera housing as the cold and warm air can expand and contract these, they should be clean and free of any particles, it only takes one strain of hair to flood a very expensive housing. Always carry spare o-rings as well, as you never know when you might need to change this due to the weather affecting the elasticity of the rubber seals.

Cold Hands – One thing I find when shooting in Antarctica is your hands get really cold (obvious, I know!) But because your hands are often holding your housing and your fingers are wrapped around the handles, they don’t move as much and will get a little stiff. What happens then is you find it hard to press the buttons on your camera housing. You also want to wear warm gloves under your wetsuit but not so thick that you can’t easily change the settings on your camera. Look for warm thin gloves and check you can easily change the settings on your camera.

Bookings, Payments and Cancellation Policy and Force Majeure in relation to the Tour

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Insurance

Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd highly recommends you purchase personal travel and dive insurance as soon as possible after confirming your travel plans. We recommend Dive Assure or DAN for diving insurance. Dive Assure offers a Dive and Travel Insurance annual and short-term (per trip). You can purchase it here: https://app.diveassure.com/#/registration/main/process/0/int/0/18669/en-intl
Evidence of adequate travel and dive insurance must be provided prior to departure.
The affiliated and established companies such as Aurora Expeditions, hold the relevant insurances and maintain responsibility for the dive and snorkel insurance policies and procedures. As such when in the water diving, snorkeling, or swimming you are doing so under the affiliated company’s policies and procedures and must adhere to either the Captain, Dive Instructor or Divemaster’s instructions.

2. Bookings and payments

Bookings made more than 100 days out from the start of a trip require a deposit of $2500.00 USD per passenger
All deposits are non-refundable.
Bookings made less than 100 days out from tour commencement require payment in full to secure your booking.
Payment in full is required 100 days out from the start of the trip. We will email you a final payment reminder prior to this date.
Each guest will be required to complete a Dive Trip Questionnaire (which may require a Dive Medical) prior to receiving a final tour confirmation. This must be completed and returned to Amanda Delaforce Travel and Photography Pty Ltd prior to final payment being made. Disclosure of your medical history and known conditions is vital, as well as a review of any other conditions that could impact your trip. Amanda Delaforce Travel and Photography Pty Ltd reserves the right to refuse trip participation on medical grounds based on any falsification or exclusion of pertinent information which impacts the trip program.

3. Amendment and cancellation policy

The trip cost is 100% non-refundable within 100 days of the departure date. This applies to deposits and/or further payments. No exceptions can be made.
If you cancel your trip 100 days or more before the trip commencement date, and we/you are able to resell/fill your place, a trip credit for your remaining balance (minus a $300 USD service fee) will be issued for use on another Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd trip which departs within 2 years of the cancellation date.
If you cancel your spot less than 99 days prior to the start of a trip, no refund or credit will be issued for deposits that have been paid.

4. Force Majeure

If our In-Country Providers cancel or if a Force Majeure Event occurs, meaning any act of God, war, terrorism, fire, flood or any other extreme weather conditions, loss of power, epidemics or pandemics, industrial disputes, slow-downs or other strike activities, riots or civil disturbances, acts of government, semi government or other authorities, inability to obtain any necessary license or consent and delays caused by sub-contractors, suppliers or other third parties (including telecommunications carriers), material shortages or other disruption to the trip beyond our control, Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd shall not be held responsible for matters outside of our control or any failure to deliver the trip.

5. Liability and obligation

Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd takes no responsibility for loss, damage or injury arising from any shortfall, error or omission in the information passed to the customer during the course of the booking process or subsequent delivery of the product. The company takes no responsibility nor can it be held liable for loss, damage, or injury that occurs on a supplier’s or service provider’s premises or transport, or between two such premises.
Participation in any of the Activities involves certain risks which may result in injury or death. This warning does not purport to describe or disclose all risks associated with participation of the Activities. There are a wide range of inherent risks when engaging in sports and particularly underwater sports; for example, with diving there is the risk of decompression sickness, embolism or other hyperbaric injury can occur that requires treatment in a recompression chamber. Open water scuba diving trips may be conducted at sites that are remote, either by time or distance, from emergency services or recompression facilities. Scuba diving and snorkeling tours will involve uncontrolled encounters with wild animals which bear the risk of stings, bites, and at the extreme end, more serious injury and death.
Participants should be responsible and aware of animal behaviors and their own interactions, and choose to engage in these activities entirely at their own risk.
We will not be liable to you in respect of any personal injury (including without limitation serious injury or death) that you may suffer or sustain directly or indirectly as a result of participating in the trip or the Activities. Nor shall we be liable to you in respect of any other losses arising as a result of any such personal injury (including without limitation loss of profit or earnings or other consequential losses). We will not be liable to you in respect of any of your personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged before, during or after a trip.
Please ensure you understand our cancellation policy and agree to the booking and trip conditions prior to providing any deposits. By placing a booking with Amanda Delaforce Photography and Travel Pty Ltd, this implies that you accept these booking terms and conditions and our cancellation policy.

Trading as “Amanda Delaforce Travel and Photography Pty Ltd”