Hi, I'm Daniel
My Antarctic stats
- Favourite trip taken: Emperor Penguin Expedition in Style
- Antarctic activities tested: Paddleboarding, heli-flightseeing and camping
- Polar plunges braved: 2
- Began working in travel: 2013
Swoop says
For keen photographers like myself, Antarctica is the gift that keeps on giving. I still look back at the photos and pinch myself as a reminder that I was the one standing there, immersed in this incredible destination at the end of the world.
Daniel Brooks Antarctica Specialist
My top 5 Antarctic experiences
- Watching a pod of 25 orcas swim right up to the ship during a late-evening sunset. An unforgettable moment of awe as the whales glided silently alongside us in golden light
- Viewing the vast scale of Antarctica from a helicopter, soaring over ice-covered mountain tops and massive glaciers. A totally different perspective that really hit home how remote the continent is
- Standing among 8,000 emperor penguins at Snow Hill Island, surrounded by adults and fluffy grey chicks. It truly felt like being inside a Sir David Attenborough wildlife documentary
- Paddleboarding in calm, mirror-like conditions, with nothing but the sound of my paddle and the occasional penguin porpoising past. The silence and sense of solitude was surreal
- An epic five-hour hike across South Georgia, following in Shackleton’s footsteps as we traversed steep ridges, thick tussock grasses and even a frozen lake – one of the most rewarding and adventurous days I’ve ever had
My Antarctic photos
Gathering as a group at Pleneau Island
A humpback whale surfaces
A sleepy Weddell seal
Hunting out tabular icebergs
Helicopter flightseeing
The 'Penguin Post Office' at the historic base at Port Lockroy
Emperor penguins en masse
More about me
- In 2012 I set off on a solo trip to Southeast Asia and Australasia. What I thought might be just a six-month trip turned into living abroad for 10 years!
- I've been lucky enough to work as an underwater videographer in Thailand, alongside other weird and wonderful jobs in the travel industry
- I love photography, spicy food and swapping travel stories with fellow adventurers
My top tip for visiting Antarctica is to keep your camera and a warm jacket with you at all times when onboard. You never know when you’ll need to rush out on deck to do some whale spotting!
Daniel Brooks
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