Today, we finally landed at Deception Island, a place I expected the most during this trip to Antarctica. Because here at Deception Island’s Whalers Bay, you can get a chance to go swimming. Swimming in Antarctica must be very crazy but very cool! I definitely gonna try it.

But at first, I would like to give a brief introduction of Deception Island and explain to you why swimming here is doable.

Deception Island is a volcanic island. But its collapsed volcanic cone provides one of the safest natural harbors in the world, even despite periodic eruptions. The geologists reckon the eruption period should be every 30 years. Its last eruption was in 1969, which demolished the Chilean scientific stations. That was 40 years ago. So our landing here today may be very dangerous.

In fact, since the early 19th century, Deception Island was a favorite refuge from the storms and icebergs of Antarctica. It was first used by sealers, then in 1906 a Norwegian-Chilean whaling company started using Whaler’s Bay as a base for a factory ship to extract whale oil. Our expedition guide explained why it’s called Deception Island.

Now this large black sand beach is covered with old barrels, equipment, whalebones and other debris from the whaling and research period. And the hot springs here have attracted many tourists to try swimming in Antarctica.

Our expedition leader told me swimming here is called polar plunge. Now I already saw some people jumping into the sea. I’m gonna try it now.

Let me ask how they feel.

Even though there’s a moment I could barely stand in the water, it’s definitely an exciting and unforgettable experience. And I also got a certificate from our ship, saying I have successfully entered the brisk waters of the Antarctic. Very very exciting.

If you come one day, you must give it a try, swimming here in Antarctica .