Zodiacs are an inflatable, highly buoyant boat, capable of carrying up to 16 guests at a time – although with Aurora, groups are usually capped at 12 to allow for extra room and comfort. In our case, our team of four was usually allocated our very own zodiac and guide, so we were particularly blessed with space which was particularly great for photography as you could move from one side of the zodiac to another to get the perfect shot.
Zodiacs brought us close to the incredible scenery and wildlife, allowing us to to see the world from a completely new point of view. They allowed us to get within 400 meters of glacier fronts, just a few meters from wallowing walruses and seals lazing on ice and close enough to icebergs to touch them.
We did a number of zodiac cruises on our expedition, exploring fjords and glaciers. They were also used to transport us to shore for our land expeditions and hikes.
Manned either by an expert guide or expedition crew, all we had to was hold on tight and feel the exhilaration of the fresh air as we cruised across the water. The windchill on the zodiac at higher speeds was sometimes quite severe, so we had to be well rugged up with beanies, scarves and gloves. Occasionally, the ocean swell would splash up into the zodiac, especially if we were going fast, so waterproof ski trousers and the specialised waterproof Aurora jacket were also a must to wear.
Getting up close and personal with the Arctic wilderness
Close enough to icebergs to touch them
Intimate encounters with wildlife
Getting close to glaciers ...
... and the cliffs of mighty polar caps
Here we are on the zodiacs
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| It got pretty cold at times! |
