Diving with LeoparD SeaLS along antarctica S peninsula

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1 Diving with LeoparD SeaLS along antarctica S peninsula Antarctica s glacial beauty of towering snow-capped mountains with glistening ice formations ranging from blue to white, makes this expedition to the seventh continent one of life s great experiences.

2 nature at its Best. Listen to Your heart pound. the Leopard seal Antarctic orcas the eight- to eleven-foot muscular leopard seal has a dark grey back with a lighter grey stomach. it s named for its white throat with black body spots. often weighing more than a ton, they are similar is length (not weight) to the walrus. these sharp-toothed carnivores lock their jaws together to allow them to sieve krill when they are not devouring penguins. Largest of the carnivores, Antarctic orcas hunt deep into pack ice for leopard seals as well as penguins. sharp, conical teeth make them a formidable predator. A pod of killer whales is capable of coordinating their attack by communicating with clicks and calls; then as they approach a seal they become absolutely silent. opportunists, early in the season, they have been known to follow icebreakers to attack seals and penguins that might have been inaccessible to them. Ocean Tramp - is a 66 feet ketch rigged sailboat, with 5 cabins. She very comfortably can carry 8 guests plus three crew members and one scientist. She is a very fast sailboat thanks to her long length, making for a short passage the sailing across the Drake. She is ideal for photographers, hikers, divers, scientists and all sort of expeditions that need a large capacity vessel with plenty of storage as well as the needed comfort when living on a sailboat for longer periods of time. She has a broadband 4G radar, forward looking sonar, autopilot, media drive for watching movies, onboard PC with WiFi internal net for sharing files, public wireless printer and scanner, chart plotter, Satellite Iridium Phone with and weather download capabilities, a large separate kitchen and a large saloon for 12 guests. She carries all the safety equipment required, including Epirb beacon, 2 SARTs, a linethrowing device, 2 liferafts, flares, Handheld VHFs, SOLAS lifejackets, inflatable lifejackets, Full Co2 engine room firefighting system, etc. She is a very sturdy and comfortable boat with huge forward and aft decks for transporting equipment, samples, and making your life easier when dealing with equipment or diving bottles and compressor

3 You will quickly become aware that you have surpassed a pinnacle in adventure travel. Antarctica s glacial beauty of towering snow-capped mountains with glistening ice formations ranging from blue to white, makes this expedition to the 7th continent one of life s great experiences. its geography is topped by the unique behavior of millions of penguins consisting primarily of four species: adélie, gentoo, chinstrap, and the less commonly sighted emperor penguins. these flightless birds are challenged throughout their life by Antarctica s frigid elements, and the imminent danger of one voracious predator, the leopard seal. our Antarctica expedition is specifically timed to coincide with the fledging of penguin chicks when these young birds first venture out from the warm comfort under their parents chests. it is a period when the chicks begin to explore the frigid water (28 to 34 F) to learn swimming and feeding skills. unlike their clumsy waddle on land, penguins are very adept swimmers. once they have departed, food deprived adults venture into open water to hunt fish for themselves and their chicks. the timing is perfect to observe the hunting behavior of one of Antarctica s only predators a time when the leopard seal feeds on penguins. Posing motionless in shallow bay, almost appearing like a harmless rock, the spotted seals wait patiently in shallow water for the opportunity to devour the young penguins. We only recently discovered that solely the leopard seal does not dominate the food chain. orcas are even one step above leopard seals and are the only Antarctic predators capable of taking down the raw power of an 11-foot long leopard seal. they are less commonly sighted than the graceful aerobatic humpbacks, but they re unique feeding technique and preference for these large, strong pinnipeds make them Antarctica s apex predator. As the leopard seals rest on floating icebergs between hunting and feeding on penguins, orca pods strategically and cooperatively hunt them down. the pod will split into two teams, with one team moving forward in front of the iceberg, and the second team staying behind. on some internal signal between the twoorca teams, the team in front will charge forward on the surface of the water using their forceful tails to create a watery wake. they churn the water back and forth making the iceberg rock until the seal either slides off or jumps into the water. there is no chance of escape for the seal and a bloody scene ensues as the orca goes for the kill. our approach is one of stealth and patience. Witnessing this unbelievable scene of the food chain s ultimate predation is almost unimaginable. however it is possible through the specific logistics BigAnimals set up for this adventure. having a vessel that is permitted to explore remote passages and islands, we stay away from the crowded routs and with intimate team of only eight guests we take our time in observation till we have to spring into action. in addition to these experiences, we will have the opportunity to access the continent by zodiac to explore historic explorer huts that were preserve very well in 20 to 30 F temperatures. this Antarctic expedition is not for the faint of heart and is designed for adventurers not tourists. As such, we have an unsurpassed level of freedom during our 21 days to explore this polar wilderness governed by cold and ice. We generally spend 14 to 16 days diving out on the peninsula and there are no limitations. it often takes many long hours waiting in and around the water to witness predation events, and schedule flexibility is absolutely necessary to obtain quality images. With rv Braveheart, our workhorse of a boat, and two zodiacs that will each carry only four guests, the possibilities are endless. We can stay wherever we like for as long as we need to capture the amazing predation only accessible in this remote location at the bottom of the world. We will also have the incredible opportunity to dive icebergs. Diving an iceberg is an ethereal experience. you feel engulfed by its massive and undeniable presence almost as if standing next to a huge mountain and looking up, but instead your floating next to it and looking down. the visibility in this frozen blue world is beyond imagination and is sometimes even disorienting. the heavy winter sea ice in Antarctica prevents too much water movement and keeps the sediment from being stirred up by waves, and the visibility distance is essentially as far as the eye can see. Being in one of the world s most incredible landscapes watching the predatory scenes that we will observe, you will quickly become aware that you have surpassed a pinnacle in adventure travel.

4 Antartica Feb 18 -Mar 10, 2018 AMos nachoum Expedition Leader Amos has over 35 years experience as a wildlife adventure guide, and 18 years experience diving in Antarctica. Professional photography will be done with Amos nachoum, who was the BBc wildlife photographer of the year in 2007 and he will be coaching individuals on wide-angle and ambient-light photography of big animals. Amos explorations have been featured on national Geo, BBc and the Discovery channel. BigAnimals Expeditions recreates the same adventures and photo opportunities for you. Amos uses his leadership and photography skills to artfully capture the lives of ocean Giants whose existence is under threat, but whose hope of survival is linked to us communicating the truth. BigAnimals Expeditions are designed to add value to your life experience, to generate attention for endangered species, to aid in their preservation and to provoke public awareness and opinion. Enhance your photographic skills with Amos. the Experience is Priceless! BigAnimals unique services raising the bar of services in every adventure we operate around the world is our policy. We lead by example with immaculate safety record. Each wildlife expedition is carefully scouted before offered to the public and we schedule departures only during peak animal presence and behavior displays, led by Amos nachoum s and based on his 35 years of diving and photographing ocean Giants. our Antartic Expedition is strictly limited to only 8 privileged guests. this is with consideration of the animals welfare and behavior, your safety and provides you with room to move freely, ample space in which to photograph and film, with personalized attention and advice. AntArticA ExPEriEncE: 18 years DAtEs: February 18 -March 10, 2019 DurAtion: 21 days MAx no. of GuEsts: 6 PricinG: $35,600 per person based on double occupancy registration: Deposit of $12,000 VEssEL: 66' Ocean Tramp, Sailboat ActiVitiEs: Live-aboard expedition dive boat, leopard seal and orca diving, ice berg cruising, hiking among penguin colonies and historic explorer sites temperature: in-water: F (-2-1 c) on-water: F (-12-4 c) trip PricE includes: Ocean Tramp, 21 days and 20 nights Airfare from Punta Arenas,Chile - King George, Island, Antarctica All meals throughout the voyage All shore excursions and activities throughout the voyage by Zodiac All diving services, tanks and weights Photography presentation and instruction Leadership by experienced expedition staff All miscellaneous service taxes and port charges throughout the program trip PricE ExcLuDEs: International airfare overnight in ushuaia, Argentina Land travel arrangements Passport and visa expenses Government arrival and departure taxes Baggage, cancellation and personal insurance (strongly recommended) Excess baggage charges on all flights All items of a personal nature such as beverages and telecommunication customary gratuity at the end of the voyage for stewards and other service personnel aboard (guidelines will be provided) unused portion of the itinerary above is not refundable Additional costs incurred due to independent travel arrangements

5 antartica itinerary > February 18 - March 10, 2019 We strongly suggest you arrive a day or two early to Punta Arenas, Chile, to make sure all your gear is arrived with you. We will advise you 90 days before departure on hotel of our choice to meet. DaY 1 FEB 18 ArriVE in Punta Arens Chile and connect with the flight to Antarctica, King George Island. Upon arriving to the Island we soon proceed and board the vessel waiting for us and cruise away after you settle with all your gear on board DaY 2-17 FEB 19-MAr 6 these are sixteen amazing days of cruising and leopard seal and orca diving as we explore the vast islands of the southwest Antarctic Peninsula. From Deception island in the north (weather permitting, we will land at Bailey head with its colony of tens of thousands of chinstrap Penguins) we sail through the breathtaking Gerlache strait and Lemaire channel. We have a good chance of en- countering humpback whales, minke whales, fin whales and orca predation. At Pleneau sland, we sail among the stun ning vestiges of once massive icebergs, an iceberg graveyard. At Pleneau we fre quently bring back the best images of leopard seal predation, as well as from coverville, Port Lockroy, Astrolabe and Gourdin island. During this time, activities include zodiac cruises, snorkeling, scuba diving, hiking, photography workshops, and lectures. With only 8 guests on board, we can be flexible in our itinerary to take advantage of the best that Antarctica has to offer, and better respond to weather and ice conditions to pursue wildlife encounters and photographic opportunities: visiting secluded bays, seeking out remote sites for penguin colonies and leopard seals, staying out long hours for shooting in rare bright light conditions. All in all, we ve created a perfect platform for both amazing photography and unforgettable life experiences. DaY MAr 6 -MAr 10 We leave the Antarctic Peninsula and start our cruise back to ushuaia, crossing the Drake Passage again, at which you re now an old hand. Leave the vessel to catch the connecting flight from ushuaia to Buenos Aires and onward. PAyMEnt PoLicy AnD DEPosit: When we receive your deposit, we will send you a comprehensive and detailed trip Preparation Bulletin about the experience and the destination. All trip costs are subject to change without prior notice until your reservation is confirmed. A deposit of 33% of the total trip price is required to secure space on the trip. Full payment is due no later than 90 days before departure. We reserve the right to sell any space that is not paid in full by 60 days before departure. cancellation PoLicy -Must be made in writing. More than 120 days before trip: deposit will be refunded less administration fee -90 days or less before trip: Deposit will be refunded if space is sold, less unrecoverable costs of sales, and administration costs. -no refund is made for unused part of the itinerary. - the - following are subject to change: -cost of services which are not included in the expedition price -Flight time and schedule -Weather, water temperature, and animal behavior

6 Biganimals expeditions antartica February 18 - March 10, 2019 Personal InformatIon ApplicAtion Form expedition antartica expeditions Dates: february 18-march 10, 2019 first name last name Date of Birth Gender: female male address City state Zip Work Phone Home Phone Citizen of Passport # Place Issued & Date trip price $35,600 per person, double occupancy. Deposit of 1/3 is required to secure space= $12,000 non-refundable. final payment due 90 days before departure. $ Please make your check payment to Biganimals expeditions, 189 evans ave #a, Pacific Grove, Ca overseas payment can be done via bank wire, instructions will be sent to you upon receipt of this application. Promotional code travel insurance: Yes no Provider Policy # travel insurance is prerequisite and mandatory on Biganimals adventures. We need to have your policy number.. Do you carry diving insurance? Yes no Provider Policy # Diving experience/years in Diving Diver must have a minimum of 50 hours Drysuit diving experience. Where & When last 3 Dive experiences? How do you rate your Diving skills? Beginner Inter advanced expert How do you rate your Photography and/or Video skills? no interest Beginner Inter advanced expert Biganimals.com info@biganimals.com 189 evans ave #a, Pacific Grove, Ca Phone amos nachoum PHotoGraPHY