We are off to the Antarctic Peninsula. My happy place! The coldest, driest, windiest continent on the planet.  However, we have only left Ushuaia late last night and we are currently in the Drake Passage ~ about half way and still have a whole day tomorrow at sea. 
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This morning I woke up at 630am and was on the observation deck with my binoculars, camera and my ear buds. I was  blasting Bob Marley, no women no cry & simply loving life.  At that point the wind was at 10knts and the seas were less than a meter - a perfect morning! I was lucky enough to see one whale from about a mile away.  Well, I saw it blow twice and then never again - I have no idea what species of whale it was BUT still incredibly stoked to see my first one already before even crossing the Polar Front.
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[![IMG_5626.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRmXmNctahWRCQVeonjwo3d4oxPw5YqroYszcGR6uehnk/IMG_5626.jpg)](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRmXmNctahWRCQVeonjwo3d4oxPw5YqroYszcGR6uehnk/IMG_5626.jpg)
<center>*My morning view from the observation deck on the M/V Island Sky.
Click image to view full size.*</center>
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The weather as of now, as I post this at almost midnight is actually pretty good - the wind is around 20-25knts and the seas are only a few meters in height, which for the Drake is below average. The days that we cross the Drake are known as *”sea days”* and this is the time that presenters (like myself) give lectures about various topics in Antarctica.  My lecture/presentation today is **”Whales of the Southern Ocean ~ An introduction”**
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*Other presenters have speciality backgrounds in Ornithology, History, Glaciology and Geology.  Of course in Marine Biology, which is my position on this ship for the next few expeditions.*
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After presenting my amazing and informative lecture to the guests I made my way back to the bridge.  This is practically where I live whilst on the ship.  My role is to find as many different marine mammal species, especially whales as possible.  They can appear at any time and some encounters last only a matter of mere seconds… unfortunately.  However, that does not deter me from doing the absolute best I can. I did not sight anything other than the distant blow from a whale at 7am this morning...
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Today lots and lots of albatross! It was amazing to watch these amazing animals glide over the seas and past the ship over and over again. This evening we plan on crossing the Antarctic convergence or Polar front, which means tomorrow is going to fun.  I shall be explaining why tomorrow on Day 2 Antarctic Diaries M/V Island Sky!
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[![IMG_5859.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVJ3aXsaZzxfi3qoh8cEQHG94pGhRmGCZt3ssqBBJ9LnL/IMG_5859.jpg)](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVJ3aXsaZzxfi3qoh8cEQHG94pGhRmGCZt3ssqBBJ9LnL/IMG_5859.jpg)
<center> An Albatross with a 3.5m wingspan gliding around the ship at sunrise. No big deal... :D
Click image to view full size.*</center>
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All stories & photographs are of my own work unless noted under the picture in question.

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