Safety is at the heart of every voyage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\nThe first priority of all expedition teams is to keep guests safe. Antarctica is extremely remote and weather conditions<\/a> can change quickly and dramatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_800,h_534\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/49202904781_d0d798fbc6_c.jpg\")
Exploring the black beaches of Deception Island, Antarctica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nI remember walking along the black sands of Deception Island<\/a> when we were suddenly informed that we had to get back to the ship immediately. I looked up at the sky but couldn\u2019t see any major changes except a slight wind that had picked up. Just 15 minutes later I was boarding a zodiac in gale force winds as waves crashed down upon the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor the next hour, our expedition leader stood in the freezing waters as wave upon wave crashed over him. He helped every guest get aboard the zodiacs<\/a> and safely back to the ship, and he received a standing ovation that night from everyone onboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\nKeeping guests safe is something that each member of the team is trained for, and they take this role very seriously. One single mistake in a hostile environment can have serious repercussions for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No two expeditions teams are the same<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_900,h_600\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SWO_4_John_ALL_Citizen_science_-900x600.jpg\")
An Antarctic expedition leader assists travellers as part of a Citizen Science<\/a> programme<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAs any Polar specialist worth their salt will tell you, no two expedition teams are the same. Unlike places like the Galapagos where you have a rating system for guides based upon their knowledge and ability to convey information, there is no such system in place in Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may get several first-year rookies on your expedition team, or you might get a team of seasoned professionals. This is why it\u2019s so important to speak to a polar specialist<\/a> prior to booking your voyage. Although a good expedition team is harder to quantify than perhaps a cabin, or a ship itinerary, it\u2019s still important to understand your guide-to-guest ratio and the previous experience and reviews of your potential expedition team. A good specialist will know the expeditions teams well and be able to give you the knowledge you require to make an informed decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSaying this, all expedition team members, regardless of their experience and knowledge level, will have completed extensive training to be where they are and you will be in safe hands whoever you decide to sail with. But if you are looking for that extra rockstar quality, speak to a specialist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
They know their stuff<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_906,h_600\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Insta_Polarconnection-0587-906x600.jpg\")
An Antarctic guide with her travellers during a landing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nOne thing that always astounds me is how much knowledge good expedition teams have about all things Antarctica. On most voyages, you\u2019ll have an expert on history, wildlife, photography<\/a>, geology and biology. As a combined force, the expedition team is like a walking library. Even the kayaking<\/a> master or the camping<\/a> master should still be able to tell you what each bird species is, or the names of the glacial periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOne of the best things about sailing across the Drake Passage<\/a> is having time to chat with expedition team members and learn about their past experiences. Many of them have spent years sailing back and forth to Antarctica and have gathered a gold mine of stories, some of which are laugh out loud hilarious, whilst others send shivers down your spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\nOn my last voyage, one of the expedition members had been coming to Antarctica for over 50 years and had seen the landscape change dramatically. It was sad hearing him point out parts of the landscape that were once covered in ice and were now melting at an alarming rate. Antarctica really is a perspective-changing experience. It can feel abstract until you\u2019re there in person. Falling in love with a place makes you want to protect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most expedition team members give lectures<\/a> on board the ship throughout the journey. The lectures are a great way of getting your knowledge up to speed. By understanding the landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it, you may find, like I always do, that you have greater respect for what you\u2019re witnessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThey work hard behind the scenes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_800,h_600\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/40113925594_dfa6b7b20a_c.jpg\")
An expedition team preparing zodiacs and kayaks in the snow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe customer-facing role of the expedition staff is just one element of their job. The team constantly works hard behind the scenes to bring guests the best possible experience. They are the first to get up in the morning and the last to go to bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A good expedition leader will work in tandem with the ship operator to create the itinerary for their ship some six months in advance. This plan might change minutes before the landing due to weather conditions, and then another plan has to be executed immediately. If the expedition team are exceptional at what they do, the guest experience will be seamless. If you decide to travel to Antarctica, chances are this may happen and you probably won\u2019t even realise a change of plan has been executed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The expedition staff are constantly in communication with the other ships<\/a> in Antarctica, planning the best possible experience for their guests, keeping out of each other\u2019s way, and passing on cool news of sightings when they occur. This helps everyone to make the most of their time at the bottom of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"4](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_899,h_600\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/zodiac-1-899x600.jpg\")
Zodiac drivers prepare to transport guests to shore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nSeveral seasons ago a lost emperor penguin was spotted by an expedition team at 11pm on the Antarctic Peninsula<\/a>. The team quietly prepared the zodiacs and then woke the guests up to perform a spontaneous trip so that everyone could witness the unique and special moment. After a successful outing, the expedition team had to stay up most of the night bringing the zodiacs back on board and getting ready for the morning landing. If that\u2019s not a sign of their commitment to the job, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe lifeblood of every voyage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I remember walking along the black sands of Deception Island<\/a> when we were suddenly informed that we had to get back to the ship immediately. I looked up at the sky but couldn\u2019t see any major changes except a slight wind that had picked up. Just 15 minutes later I was boarding a zodiac in gale force winds as waves crashed down upon the shore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the next hour, our expedition leader stood in the freezing waters as wave upon wave crashed over him. He helped every guest get aboard the zodiacs<\/a> and safely back to the ship, and he received a standing ovation that night from everyone onboard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Keeping guests safe is something that each member of the team is trained for, and they take this role very seriously. One single mistake in a hostile environment can have serious repercussions for everyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As any Polar specialist worth their salt will tell you, no two expedition teams are the same. Unlike places like the Galapagos where you have a rating system for guides based upon their knowledge and ability to convey information, there is no such system in place in Antarctica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You may get several first-year rookies on your expedition team, or you might get a team of seasoned professionals. This is why it\u2019s so important to speak to a polar specialist<\/a> prior to booking your voyage. Although a good expedition team is harder to quantify than perhaps a cabin, or a ship itinerary, it\u2019s still important to understand your guide-to-guest ratio and the previous experience and reviews of your potential expedition team. A good specialist will know the expeditions teams well and be able to give you the knowledge you require to make an informed decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Saying this, all expedition team members, regardless of their experience and knowledge level, will have completed extensive training to be where they are and you will be in safe hands whoever you decide to sail with. But if you are looking for that extra rockstar quality, speak to a specialist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing that always astounds me is how much knowledge good expedition teams have about all things Antarctica. On most voyages, you\u2019ll have an expert on history, wildlife, photography<\/a>, geology and biology. As a combined force, the expedition team is like a walking library. Even the kayaking<\/a> master or the camping<\/a> master should still be able to tell you what each bird species is, or the names of the glacial periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the best things about sailing across the Drake Passage<\/a> is having time to chat with expedition team members and learn about their past experiences. Many of them have spent years sailing back and forth to Antarctica and have gathered a gold mine of stories, some of which are laugh out loud hilarious, whilst others send shivers down your spine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On my last voyage, one of the expedition members had been coming to Antarctica for over 50 years and had seen the landscape change dramatically. It was sad hearing him point out parts of the landscape that were once covered in ice and were now melting at an alarming rate. Antarctica really is a perspective-changing experience. It can feel abstract until you\u2019re there in person. Falling in love with a place makes you want to protect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most expedition team members give lectures<\/a> on board the ship throughout the journey. The lectures are a great way of getting your knowledge up to speed. By understanding the landscape and the wildlife that inhabits it, you may find, like I always do, that you have greater respect for what you\u2019re witnessing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The customer-facing role of the expedition staff is just one element of their job. The team constantly works hard behind the scenes to bring guests the best possible experience. They are the first to get up in the morning and the last to go to bed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A good expedition leader will work in tandem with the ship operator to create the itinerary for their ship some six months in advance. This plan might change minutes before the landing due to weather conditions, and then another plan has to be executed immediately. If the expedition team are exceptional at what they do, the guest experience will be seamless. If you decide to travel to Antarctica, chances are this may happen and you probably won\u2019t even realise a change of plan has been executed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The expedition staff are constantly in communication with the other ships<\/a> in Antarctica, planning the best possible experience for their guests, keeping out of each other\u2019s way, and passing on cool news of sightings when they occur. This helps everyone to make the most of their time at the bottom of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Several seasons ago a lost emperor penguin was spotted by an expedition team at 11pm on the Antarctic Peninsula<\/a>. The team quietly prepared the zodiacs and then woke the guests up to perform a spontaneous trip so that everyone could witness the unique and special moment. After a successful outing, the expedition team had to stay up most of the night bringing the zodiacs back on board and getting ready for the morning landing. If that\u2019s not a sign of their commitment to the job, I don\u2019t know what is.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNo two expeditions teams are the same<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They know their stuff<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They work hard behind the scenes<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The lifeblood of every voyage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sp-ao.shortpixel.ai\/client\/to_auto,q_glossy,ret_img,w_610,h_437\/https:\/\/blog.swoop-adventures.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/SWO_3_LOLI_ALL_LOLIPENGUINS-836x600.jpg\")