Ataa Sound: August 13, 2025

We woke to another beautiful day with glassy water and beautiful reflections. The view on the other side of the ship was of an active glacier called Eqip Sermia.

Eqip Sermia

It took awhile to get going with dressing for kayaking and getting a few instructions. We reported to the tender deck dressed only in a base layer--our long underwear. We also needed sunglasses and a wool hat. Once in the tender deck, we put on a fleece onesie, and struggled into the dry suit and waterproof booties. We boarded a zodiac and our kayaks, tethered together, were pulled from the ship into the water. Within view of the glacier, we carefully transferred from the zodiac into a kayak.

It was amazing to be so relatively close to the glacier, to feel the frigid air, and to hear it thunder from internal collisions and from calving. When it was quiet we could hear and see ancient air bubbles chiming and popping as they surfaced.

The photos so far don't really capture how huge Eqip Sermia is. Back on the ship, I took some photos of some of the zodiacs and a tourist tour boat near the base of the glacier. The tourist boat looks like it is right next to the glacier, but it must keep at least 400 meters away from the glacier.

In the afternoon we landed (in zodiacs) at Alluttoq Island for a nature hike.

That evening the water was still flat but it looked like a weather change was coming.

Tomorrow: Disko Island and Qeqertarsuaq