Snorkelling on expedition ships is an increasingly popular activity. And for some, polar snorkelling is the ultimate experience. This is offered by many ExplorEarth partners in Antarctica, not the Arctic due to the risk of Polar Bear encounters. 

To see whales breaching, bubble-net feeding and showcasing their flukes, Antarctica is the best region to visit. Whale activity is particularly prominent in late-season, March-April, with seas described recently by ExplorEarth writer Billy Heaney as, 'Humpback Soup!'. 

Kayaking has become on of the most popular activities on expedition cruises, that may be included or optional on specific sailings. Our experts say that East Greenland is likley the best place for kayaking from a ship, with dramatic backdrops like Scoresbysound. This is closely followed by the Antarctic Peninsula. 

Polar Bears are only seen in the Arctic, and primarily from expedition cruises to Svalbard. These typically involve flying to Norway and then taking a second flight to Longyearbyen. There are however restrictions that prevent expedition ships for getting too close to the bears of Svalbard. You can also see bears in East Greenland and The Northwest Passage, but for a guaranteed bear experience, Churchill in the Canadian Arctic is the primary place to visit. 

For warm-water snorkelling, The Galapagos is our ultimate destination. With an extarordinary underwater eco-system and numerous endemic marinelife, like Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Turtles.