Deception Island

Forming part of the South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is one of the safest harbours in Antarctica. The entire island is the caldera of an active volcano. Once a whaling station, today it is a huge tourist attraction along the Antarctic tourist circuit. To enter the caldera harbour, vessels must clear ‘Neptune’s Bellows’, a 230-metre break in the volcano’s walls. Visitors can look forward to an array of activities including taking a relaxing soak in the thermal waters of the island, exploring the beautiful Port Foster and spotting chinstrap penguins. It is also home to an array of other birds including petrels, brown skuas, and sheathbills and has been proclaimed an Important Birding Area.