Antarctic Peninsula: Fly the Drake
Starts and Ends in
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Price is inclusive of all discounts
Departing
01 Jan 0001
Duration
0 days
Activity Level
Daily shore excursions, guided hikes & outings
Moderate
Season
2027, 2028
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Antarctica
Antarctic Peninsula: Fly the Drake
Highlights
Grant Humphries
Oceanites Researcher
Dr. Grant Humphries is a National Geographic Explorer, and Oceanites’ Director of Science in which role, among other things, he oversees Oceanites’s penguin data collection, manages Oceanites’s drone program, and serves as Head of Delegation at the meetings of the Scientific Committee of the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources.
Grant’s a native Newfoundlander and a seabird data scientist who’s tromped through more than his fair share of guano. He is the database and web manager for the Mapping Application for Penguin Populations and Projected Dynamics (MAPPPD) website. MAPPPD is the primary penguin population database that all stakeholders in the Antarctic Treaty system maintain.
Grant also directs Black Bawks Data Science, a data management and analytical company. He has more than 18 years of experience working with seabirds and multivariate statistics. He holds a PhD in Zoology from the University of Otago and is the vice-chair of the World Seabird Union.
Grant has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in academic journals and many reports ranging from impacts of offshore renewables on marine life to the impacts of tourism on Antarctic penguin populations. He was also the lead editor of “Machine learning for sustainable natural resource management” published by Springer Nature in 2018.
He is a guitarist and mandolin player and lives in the Scottish highlands with his two daughters, Dylan and River.
Dr Grant Humphries will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departing 29 January 2026 & Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake departing 8 February 2026.
James Bunyan
Oceanites Researcher
James is the Director of Tracks Ecology Ltd., combining years of field experience with a passion for advancing ecological understanding. He holds a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Birmingham and a Master’s in Biodiversity and Conservation from the University of Leeds. He is also a full member of the UK Chartered Institute for Ecology and Environmental Management.
After several years in academia — carrying out research with the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford and at the University of Bristol — James moved into industry, where he worked on ecological impact assessments for a wide range of renewable energy and infrastructure projects across the UK. In 2014, he founded Tracks Ecology Ltd., an independent consultancy that works with academic institutions, conservation organizations, charities, and private clients. The aim has always been simple: to provide bespoke, high-quality solutions across the fields of ecology, biodiversity, and conservation.
His career has focused on mammals, particularly bats and carnivores, and he has built extensive research and consultancy experience in the UK, alongside international projects in Iceland, Central America, and Africa. James has a particular interest in applying technology to conservation — from drones and thermal imaging to remote sensing — and continues to explore innovative approaches that can enhance both ecological research and practical conservation. In recent years, much of James’ work has focused around using drones to further our ecological understanding through mapping and inspection projects looking at a range of species and ecosystems, including seagrass distribution, seal populations, peatland restoration, invasive species monitoring and cliff nesting seabirds.
Outside of work, James values time with his family and remains curious about new frontiers in ecological research and technology, always aiming to combine scientific rigor with meaningful, real-world outcomes for conservation.
James Bunyan will be a special guest on our Across the Antarctic Circle voyage departing 29 January 2026 & Across the Antarctic Circle: Fly the Drake departing 8 February 2026.
Meet our Expert Special Guests
With education and enrichment at the heart of how we explore, our Special Guests Program features experts in fields such as exploration, conservation, science, photography, art, and culture. These special guests join select voyages to share their unique perspectives and experiences. Guest appearances vary by departure — explore the bios below to discover who is joining this expedition.
Included Activities
Bird Watching
Lectures on wildlife, our environment, history and destinations
Marine Mammal Spotting
Photography
Polar Plunge
Scenic Cruising
Trips Ashore
Walking
Wildlife Watching
Zodiac Cruising
Our Ship
The Douglas Mawson
Capacity
154 Passengers Maximum (130 on Expedition)
Year built
2025
Cabins
86
Length
104.4 m
Decks
8
Speed
10-12 Knots
Extension Tours
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