After several days at sea, we awoke to the beautiful site of Gough Island. Its high cliffs towering out of the sea just off the port (left) side of the ship, which happens to be where our cabin is.
Gough Island (/ɡɒf/ GOF), also known historically as Gonçalo Álvares, is a rugged volcanic island in the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a dependency of Tristan da Cunha and part of the British overseas territory of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It is about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) north-east from South Georgia Island, 2,700 km (1,700 mi) west from Cape Town, and over 3,200 km (2,000 mi) from the nearest point of South America.
Gough Island is uninhabited, except for the personnel of a weather station (usually six people) that the South African National Antarctic Program has maintained, with British permission, continually on the island since 1956. It is one of the most remote places with a constant human presence. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of “Gough and Inaccessible Island”. It is one of the most important seabird colonies in the world.
You cannot go ashore on Gough as it is a protected natural habitat, but on this rainy and windy morning, we boarded zodiacs to have about an hour and a half ride along the shore. The waves were about 6 feet high though they were calmer by the shore. Here were Northern Rockhopper Penguins, Fur Seals, Elephant Seals and many species of birds. The seals were floundering in the water, playing and coming up to us, as if they were showing off or just checking us out.
Between the rain and the waves, it was not the best of conditions for photography, but here are some of what I could get.
Toward the end of our ride along the shore we noticed a flock of Southern Giant Petrels in the water all fluttering about. They are known as the “Vultures of the Sea” and seeing them together like this was an indication of something happening. Sure enough as we approached we watched a Fur Seal attack and disembowel a Penguin. I got some video, but with the waves and boat moving, it was hard to catch it all. Though we miss the Penguin, it is the Circle of Life.
Quite an adventure!!!