SOUTHERN OCEAN

At fifty degrees south the world seems freshly created and completely undiscovered. Absorbing the waves, the boat heaves and subsides as though breathing. Albatross pass by without so much as a glance whilst cape petrels stick around for a while reminding you that the Southern Ocean is an open road in any direction for those less domesticated.

As I embarked on my Southern Ocean expedition, I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation, knowing that I was venturing into one of the planet's most remote and unpredictable regions. As the ship sailed towards the never ending horizon, I found myself mesmerised by the sight of albatross gracefully gliding alongside us, their wings spanning vast distances with effortless ease. These majestic seabirds seemed to embody the spirit of the Southern Ocean, their presence a reminder of the untamed wilderness that lay ahead. There is something humbling about being on a boat in the middle of the ocean surrounded by a 360 degree horizon line.