Sylvia Earle, the second ship to be launched by Australian adventure company Aurora Expeditions, will be heading out on her inaugural voyage from Ushuaia, Argentina, to Antarctica in December.
Sister to the Greg Mortimer, launched in 2019, the ship is named after one of the world’s leading ocean conservationists and Time magazine’s first Hero of the Planet
Dr Earle has been a National Geographic explorer-in-residence since 1998 and her own conservation initiative, Mission Blue, is creating a global network of marine protected areas known as ‘Hope Spots’.
In February, in partnership with Ocean Geographic, she will lead a world-first Antarctic Climate Expedition on the new ship to raise public and government awareness of the environmental importance of the Antarctic.
This special voyage aims to deliver resolutions to inspire transformative changes for global net-zero emission by 2035 from an ocean perspective.
Sylvia Earle is Time magazine’s first Hero of the Planet
Each of the new ship’s decks is named after six other pioneering female conservationists – Jo Ruxton (MBE), Dr Carden Wallace (AM), Sharon Kwok, Bernadette Demientieff, Dr Asha de Vos and Hanli Prinsloo – with a deck dedicated to Dr Earle herself.
“Female scientists are leading the way in global conservation initiatives, and we want to honour these seven extraordinary women who work tirelessly to make the world a better place,” says Aurora’s Chief Marketing Officer Hayley Peacock-Gower.
“We invite you to ignite your curiosity, passion and care for the natural world, and join us on board the new Sylvia Earle for a true Aurora experience of a lifetime – and travel for good.”
With a strong focus on education and conservation, the Sylvia Earle is designed to accommodate up to 132 passengers in a relaxed and informal onboard setting, offering stylish and comfortable staterooms and suites, most with private balconies.
Zodiac docks, a changing room and mudroom prepare passengers for off-ship and on-shore activities, while a dedicated Science Centre is the hub for a variety of participative and educational Citizen Science programmes.
The Science Centre on Sylvia Earle is the hub for a variety of participative and educational programmes Centre
A highly experienced expedition team guides passengers in small groups on myriad excursions by water and land, with exciting activities ranging from Zodiac cruises to walks and hikes, sea kayaking, scuba-diving, snorkelling, paddling, skiing, photography and birdwatching, among others.
“Our goal is to immerse our expeditioners in some of the world’s most remote and fascinating places and, in doing so, create lifelong ambassadors for the planet,” Peacock-Gower adds.