Day 8 

March 16th      Deception Island (62°56’S, 60°40’W)

             Telefon Bay, Pendulum Cove

We continued cruising to Deception Island which is the southermost of the South Shetland Islands and is the largest active volcano in the area at the northwest side of the Peninsula. At some point int the past, its volcanic cone collapsed into the lava chamber, creating immense caldera that is filled with water, creating a natural safe harbour. Inside, there is an abandoned whaling station, as well as the remains of scientific stations abandoned after the last big eruption in 1969. There are now two active stations, one from Spain and one Argentinean.

At the easternmost end of Telefon Bay, a gently sloping beach leads to a broad shallow valley which rises sharply to a number of unnamed volcanic craters. These are up to 45m in depth, although they are slowly being filled in by sediment and ice. The prominent ash cliffs that form the east and west sides of the valley are remnants of an older crater that was modified during an eruption in 1967, which broadened the valley itself. Relict heat still affects the beach at the landing site and has caused local orange staining of the rocks exposed there. Fauna There is no breeding wildlife at Telefon Bay

During the morning we disembarked in Telefon Bay and had a wonderful Walk towards the edge of the crater.

In Pendulum Cove where we had the unique experience relaxing in the hot springs and swimming in the antarctic ocean. 

We leaved the Antarctic and head north back across the Drake Passage.