Leopard Seal + Zodiac

Friday November 3rd 2023
South Georgia - Cruise Expedition Day 12 - Gold Harbour, Cooper Bay, Drygalski Fjord

Penguins, seals and icebergs

What an amazing day for many reasons.

am.  We visited Gold Harbour where the Zodiacs took us into a flooded corrie beneath a hanging glacier and icefall.
Fur seals, elephant seals and king penguins were the main wildlife.  On the way back to the ship, a large bull elephant seal surfaced right against the side of the Zodiac immediately behind me, sending a spray of water into the boat.  I don't know who was more surprised. The seal immediately swam towards the shore.  Sadly, no photos of this encounter.

pm.  We visited Cooper Bay.  We had no landings, but instead observed from just offshore in the Zodiacs.
I don't know if you have ever tried this but it wasn't easy - 10 passengers + driver in an inflatable parallel to the shore and broadside to the waves.  Photography becomes very hit-or-miss - actually more misses than hits.

Before returning to the ship, our drivers took us to one side of the bay to see macaroni penguins but before reaching there, an inquisitive leopard seal came over to investigate, repeatedly and playfully diving under the boats, swimming in the wake and even trying to bite one of the ropes on the outside.  I managed a photo of its head but nobody got a shot of it briefly showing its fearsome teeth.  
P.S. Aparently, someone in another Zodiac got a great image of it rearing out of the water beside us.  I will try to track her down and maybe get a copy from her. Now two images (not by me) have been added in the extras.

Just south of Cooper Island were many grounded icebergs, all believed to be derived from the break-up of A76 which was a piece, the size of a small country, that broke off the Larsen ice shelf a few years ago.  An iceberg's graveyard.

Leaving Cooper Bay / Island behind us, we sailed a short distance to view a scenic fjord - the Drygalski Fjord but on approach, the wind suddenly picked up, gusting to 75 knots, visibility was much reduced and about half an hour later, it  started to rain.  Thank goodness the typical South Georgia weather held off until the end of our four days visiting the island.  I have now seen far more of SG in 4 days than I ever saw in 15 months in the 1970s.

Now heading for the Antarctic Peninsula so thev next two days will be at sea.

Images:
Main: Head of Leopard Seal.  Extras: Leopard seal rearing out of the water beside the Zodiac (I'm second from left) by Dawn, and one of it trying to bite the rope/boat by Leah