At sea, Atlantic Ocean
We have been fortunate during this voyage to encounter a wide range of the creatures that inhabit the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. From the decks we have watched seabirds, flying fish and a variety of marine mammals. In the lounge we have been treated to images of life below the waves at the islands we have visited thanks to the aquatic adventures of the Undersea Specialist. The role of Undersea Specialist on board Lindblad vessels is to open a door to another dimension, one that is at once very close and always below us but at the same time an alien, inhospitable, environment. Whenever possible the undersea world is brought to us by filming what can be found by SCUBA diving or using the Remote Operated Vehicle, which can operate at greater depths than is possible by SCUBA.
Today we were again fortunate to encounter a group of short-finned pilot whales. When viewed from the deck of the ship, watching whales is not unlike looking at icebergs - rarely more than a small fraction of the whole is on view at once. And when there are a number of animals on the surface at one time, instinctively we know that there are more animals below the surface, but just how many? On this occasion an opportunity presented itself to obtain a rare below-the-surface glimpse of a group of short-finned pilot whales. Soon after the animals were first sighted a Zodiac was deployed, a careful approach was made to the animals and the Undersea Specialist slipped into the water. The footage captured showed the full beauty and graceful motion of the animals in a way that it is difficult to appreciate from the deck of a ship.
Later we passed the remote but geologically exciting St Peter and Paul Rocks, breaking the surface of the mid Atlantic by a mere 50 feet, claimed by Brazil and home to a few seabirds and a group of researchers. Then, after requesting the necessary permission from King Neptune and his entourage we passed from the northern hemisphere into the south, as we made our passage across the Equator, halfway through our six day passage to Brazil.
We have been fortunate during this voyage to encounter a wide range of the creatures that inhabit the vast expanses of the Atlantic Ocean. From the decks we have watched seabirds, flying fish and a variety of marine mammals. In the lounge we have been treated to images of life below the waves at the islands we have visited thanks to the aquatic adventures of the Undersea Specialist. The role of Undersea Specialist on board Lindblad vessels is to open a door to another dimension, one that is at once very close and always below us but at the same time an alien, inhospitable, environment. Whenever possible the undersea world is brought to us by filming what can be found by SCUBA diving or using the Remote Operated Vehicle, which can operate at greater depths than is possible by SCUBA.
Today we were again fortunate to encounter a group of short-finned pilot whales. When viewed from the deck of the ship, watching whales is not unlike looking at icebergs - rarely more than a small fraction of the whole is on view at once. And when there are a number of animals on the surface at one time, instinctively we know that there are more animals below the surface, but just how many? On this occasion an opportunity presented itself to obtain a rare below-the-surface glimpse of a group of short-finned pilot whales. Soon after the animals were first sighted a Zodiac was deployed, a careful approach was made to the animals and the Undersea Specialist slipped into the water. The footage captured showed the full beauty and graceful motion of the animals in a way that it is difficult to appreciate from the deck of a ship.
Later we passed the remote but geologically exciting St Peter and Paul Rocks, breaking the surface of the mid Atlantic by a mere 50 feet, claimed by Brazil and home to a few seabirds and a group of researchers. Then, after requesting the necessary permission from King Neptune and his entourage we passed from the northern hemisphere into the south, as we made our passage across the Equator, halfway through our six day passage to Brazil.
