Cuverville Island or Île de Cavelier de Cuverville is a dark, rocky island lying in Errera Channel between Arctowski Peninsula and the northern part of Rongé Island, off the west coast of Graham Land. Cuverville Island is located at 64°41′S, 62°38′W. Cuverville Island was discovered by the Belgian Antarctic Expedition (1897-1899) under Adrien de Gerlache, who named it for J.M.A. Cavelier de Cuverville (1834-1912), a vice admiral of the French Navy. In summer Cuverville is often home to a well-sized rookery of gentoo penguins.

The second landing on Sunday afternoon was at Waterboat Point, where the Chilean Presidente Gabriel González Videla Station is located. The station was surrounded by a penguin colony, and because of the sheltered location, the smell here was much worse than at the other locations. The station had a small museum and souvenir shop (nothing of interest there). It is hard to imagine how people could spend the winter in these small bases with no supply ship for 6 months, and nothing but bitter cold and snow.

On Sunday evening we did the third landing of that day. Cuverville Island was the location, and there was supposed to be a view from the 275m hill. However, it was quite cloudy and because my knee was still hurting, I decided not to do the hike. Instead, I just sat down among the penguins, and watched them waggle by and approach me slowly. Very funny to see.

Sunrise 02:20, sunset 23:56

We spent the morning at Paradise Bay. There were a Chilean and an Argentine base here. The Argentine one called Almirante Brown was closed due to financial problems. The bay had a lot of wild life, we saw nests for blue eyed shags on the cliff, arctic terns, and painted petrels (pintado petrels) also. On the cliffs were also lichens, the most we have seen so far anywhere. We took a zodiac tour around the bay, close to a glacier enough to see it but very far away in practice because it was calfing! We circled around the Almirante Brown base and saw a mother and baby seal on the shore. We landed at Almirante Brown base to see more gentoo penguin colonies.

In the afternoon, the ship arrived at Cuverville Island, a small, rocky island in the middle of Errera Channel between Ronge Island and the Arctowski Peninsula on the continent. There were more gentoo penguin colonies, and were home to many other birds such as giant petrels, pintado petrels, snow petrels, Wilson's storm-petrels, blue-eyed shags, terns and skuas. On the way here we also saw a couple of Minke whales in the channel.

The water around here were clear and calm as a mirror, and the ship lowered its kayaks for those who wanted to kayak in Antarctica! I had never kayaked before, and these kayaks were specially made for artic waters (taller and supposedly less likely to tip over). We were given instructions and away we went. Have you ever kayaked among icebergs in mirror like water with penguins porpoising around you? It was really peaceful and the scenary was unique to say the least. Afterwards we went on Cuverville Island and watched more amazing penguins. They had made several trails in the snow up and down the hill, the nesting grounds can not be in the snow, so were further up in the island. They had a long way to go to the water and back to the nests.