Christmas in Antarctica!

Just signed up for a month of underwater exploration in Antarctica spanning Christmas and New Years. With its unnamed invertebrates, below freezing temperatures, and carnivorous seals that stretch the length of a mid-size car, our earth's most southern continent is a place of wondrous finds.

Swimming amidst grounded icebergs and penguins while losing sensation in your lips from the 29F/-1.6C water is the kind of diving that challenges the mind, body and whatever other ingredients make us human.

For laughs, I have included a link of some hijinks Patrick Gilmore and I got into when exploring the islands and channels of the Antarctic Peninsula aboard the National Geographic Explorer.

Penguins: High Def vs. Standard Def

As well as the recent article from scientist Skye Moret using my underwater images to compare the color differences between what is above and below the waters off the white continent.

In Living Color: Antarctica's Vibrant Wildlife Under the Sea

Fresh Back from Baja California

"Yet we must choose each step we take with utmost caution, for the footprints we leave behind are as important as the path we will follow. They’re part of the same journey..." - excerpt from Dance of the Chupacabras

I have recently returned from three weeks of eye contact with dolphins.

Some ocean vibrance while on land.

And plenty of reasons to return.

More stories and photos on there way soon!

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Befriending the Leviathan – The Gray Whales of Baja California

How easily we draw the line that separates us from the wild. Presuming that our ability to name the creatures of this world somehow separates us from them, and worse yet gives us dominion to do with them as we please.

Yet out of all the places in the world where we have abused animal life as a resource, none tell a more magical tale than the lagoon of San Ignacio in Baja California where the California Gray Whales have suffered both slaughter and revival.

Beginning in 1845, these whales were found to be easy prey for the bold whalers that chose to hunt them. Injuring the newly born calves, the whalers knew that the mother would seek to help her young, thus dooming herself to die under the heft of their spears. Such hunting was easily accomplished with the known breeding grounds with water too shallow for the whales to dive and escape.

Without conscience, the slaughter brought the California Gray Whales down to the brink of extinction with population estimates at only 250 whales remaining in the North Pacific at the time. Luckily, Mexico stepped up and became the first country to enact protection over these magnificent and intelligent creatures, and over the last one hundred plus years the whales have been recovering and greatly adding to their numbers.

With the fortune of visiting the lagoon aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion, I was privileged to encounter these marine mammals in the very place that they are born. In the shallows water, the mother’s exercise their young against the current to prepare them for the five thousand mile journey to the feeding grounds of Alaska.

Once known as the Devil Fish for how fiercely they fought against the whalers, the Gray Whale mothers now, unbelievably, encourage their calves to approach. Out of all the marine mammals encounters that I have enjoyed, this one takes the prize.

Petting the calves as they rolled and rubbed our zodiac, I was close enough to look into their eyes, see the newly growing hairs that remind of the heritage that we share, and even get my hat blown off when they exhaled.

Words have no place in trying to describe the experience, thus I share some of the images I was able to capture with hope that the reader will be as endeared to them as I am, and perhaps visit such a place for themselves one day.

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All photos © Paul North (unless otherwise noted)

Seabirds of the Drake Passage

Headed out from our embarkation port of Ushuaia, Argentina the National Geographic Orion pointed south toward the Antarctic Peninsula. Followed by a myriad of sea birds, I enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture them on film as they swooped past our vessel using the updraft to cruise above the waves.

Sooty Albatross

These birds spend the majority of their lives flying above the open ocean. Only returning to land when the season calls for them to mate and hatch their young. Using the strong westerly winds, it is rare to see them flap their wings.

Pintado Petrel

Conserving their energy, some are even known to spend weeks at a time without landing due to the consistency of the wind and its ability to carry them many hundreds of miles in search of available food.

Black Browed Albatross

Southern Petrel

I never thought I would consider an albatross sighting to be a common thing, but after seeing more than a hundred I now view them as welcome travelling companions.

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Killer Whale attack in the Southern Ocean

12/04/14 - Searching the waters on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula the National Geographic Explorer encountered a pod of Type A Killer Whales trying to separate a Minke whale calf from its mother.


Type A Killer Whales are the largest of all Killer Whale on our planet. Easily recognized by their very large white eye patch, these apex predators are known for their keen strategies that succeed in taking down much larger prey.

Successfully separating the calf from its mother, the pod decided to split. Half staying to begin the work of drowning the Minke calf, while the others pursued the mother to see if they could add her to the menu.

In perfect unison, the pod toppled upon the calf. Denying it the ability to break the surface in order to breathe. Here we see the calf lunging for air as the pursuit continues.


Greatly outnumbered, the Minke whale calf had little chance of survival. Here we see a large male biting down on the submerged calf.

And the resulting wound.

Wounded and exhausted the Minke calf makes one last attempt to breathe.

Before succumbing to the inevitable.

It was our great luck to have two NOAA whale biologists on board - Dr. John Durban & Dr. Holly Fearnbach. With a cross bow delivery system, they tag these Killer Whale populations with satellite transmitters enabling a wealth of data to be collected concerning the behaviors and locations of these magnificent creatures. Note the satellite tag attached to the end of the arrow.

With each tag costing several thousand dollars, Dr. Durban must wait for the perfect shot in order that the tag stick firmly within the dorsal fin. This ensures that it will stay fixed and transmitting for 3-4 months.

As John waits for his moment to fire, we witness the true size of this male. That dorsal fin can reach six vertical feet. Killer Whales this size are not found anywhere else in the world.

Successfully tagging several Killer Whales this day, John & Holly are now tracking their movements and YOU CAN TOO!!!

CLICK HERE to go to NOAA's website to track these Killer Whales.

In the right hand column, click on the drop down menu for WHALES and select Dec 4 as the date to track these specific Killer Whales. A very unique opportunity to follow along - too cool not to share!

Photos by Paul North - follownorth.com

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Penguin Colony Lifecycle on the Antarctic Peninsula.

After a two day crossing of the Drake Passage, the National Geographic Explorer steered a course toward the penguin colonies upon Brown Bluff. Being the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula, it is a known location for penguin colonies.

Waiting for the austral summer to commence, the penguins know exactly when to come to ground to begin preparations. As the ice clears, moss and lichen begin to show their colors once again.

Here Adélie penguins gather in great numbers and choose to nest in close quarters. This can make nest building a bit of a competitive sport.

Choosing which beach rocks to build with is important and competition is everywhere.

Neighbors are not to be trusted, often stealing a rock away when someone is not looking.

But there is satisfaction when finding a mate who can help with the work load.

Once the chicks are hatched they are still in need of the parents warmth and protection.

And of course, the free meals that they provide.

This Brown Skua is one of the many predators that a penguin colony must endure. Patiently waiting at the edge of the colony, it seeks out those who stray too far from their parents' protection.

Unattended eggs also make a meal. Trading a life so that another may go on. As gruesome as this may seem, it is a necessary factor in maintaining the equilibrium of the colony's population.

The cold climate can preserve remains. Telling the story of survival in a landscape riddled with dangers.

And once the breeding season has run its course and the chicks are grown, it is back to the waters of the Southern Ocean to seek food and furtherance for these hearty, flightless birds.

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The Brush-Tail Penguins of Antarctica

Ending 2014 with a journey to the white continent of Antarctica was a dream. Working as the Undersea Specialist with Lindblad Expeditions/National Geographic allowed for many amazing wildlife encounters. Chief among them was meeting all three species of Brush-tail Penguins.

Generally described as 'cute' - I feel this word undermines the endurance and creativity of these survivors. Living in the most unforgiving environment on our planet, they swim, waddle, surf, and build in order to secure the future of their species.

Brush-tail #1: The Gentoo Penguins carefully select their rocks with which to build their nests.

Brush-tail #2: The Adélie Penguin heading to the ocean to feed.

Brush-tail #3: Chin-strap Penguins inspecting the water for predators before they dive in.

Many more photos of these little ones on the way. Until then I leave you with a picture of me in front of our mighty ice breaking vessel the National Geographic Explorer.

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