December 25, 2021
While Zodiac boats are used as transportation to shore for our land excursions, there is an option just to tour around in the Zodiac. That provides a unique perspective because so much life is on the water.
We access the Zodiacs from the gangway of the ship. We were instructed on our briefings how to safely enter and exit the Zodiacs. By the end of the trip, we all were proficient at this. On our first Zodiac tour there was so much chunky pack ice in the water making this tour spectacular. The Zodiac amazingly cut right through the ice.
We appeared so small in comparison to the ship, the sea, the mountains and icebergs. I was grateful for the opportunity and humbled by this part of the world that is dedicated to peace and science.
Icebergs come in myriad hues and multicolor patterns. An iceberg’s color is determined by how it interacts with light. The ice beneath an ice berg is so vividly blue because of the lack of oxygen. We are seeing “pure ice”—frozen water that is free of contaminants
We picked up a chunk of black ice from the ocean. All the air has been compressed out of the ice giving it the clear color. It will not melt as quickly as typical ice cube because of its density. We brought it into the ship to use in our drinks at the bar.
