Fortunately I was not in the 6:45am kayak group, so I was able to have breakfast and then attend the 30 minute lecture about how to get into our kayak suit - seriously, 30 minutes! The suits cost $1,000 each we were told, and have gaskets at the wrists, ankles, and neck so if you fall in the water the gaskets keep water from getting inside your suit and you float. You won't be particularly warm but you won't sink, either. We also wore life vests over the suits, and neoprene boots. Everyone needed help getting into the suits and making sure the gaskets were sealed, the zippers were locked, etc. It was a long process but finally we were ready.
The kayaks were towed behind our zodiac and we went to a calm bay with beautiful icebergs and humpback whales. One by one we got into our kayaks, which wasn't as hard as I expected - going from the round rubber side of the zodiac you just kind of drop into the kayak. We all paddled around randomly until everyone was in a boat, which took a while but it was a great chance to paddle close to the sheer cliffs and towering ice and snow of Antarctica. We saw whales immediately and it was an amazing viewpoint to be on the water with them, almost eye-level. They are curious and very playful and don't make much of a wake or ripple when they go under water so we never felt in danger. It was incredible! 3 humpbacks played around us for a long time-so cool to hear their noises and see them next to our boats!
We kayaked for 90 minutes and it sleeted on and off, and we could hear rumblings of glaciers, which sounds like thunder. I wasn't cold but with the sleet and then some wind I started getting chilly.
Getting into the zodiac from the kayaks was harder, and I was able to boost myself up enough to get onto the side of the zodiac, but my roommate just dove headfirst into the zodiac and ended up on the floor of the boat! It was funny and then other people decided that was a good way to get out of their kayaks so more people slid into the zodiac!
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