South Georgia - Grytviken Dive Site — Antarctica
About South Georgia - Grytviken
Grytviken on South Georgia is the final resting place of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the site of the Southern Ocean's largest former whaling station. Underwater, the bay is dominated by dense forests of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) that create a cathedral-like canopy over the rocky seabed. Antarctic fur seals — especially playful juveniles — are the star attraction, spiralling around divers, nibbling fins, and performing barrel rolls with infectious joy. King penguins porpoise through the kelp forest at speed, and elephant seals occasionally lumber past on the bottom. The water is rich with cold-water invertebrates including feather stars, sea urchins, and bright orange soft corals. Whale bones from the whaling era still lie scattered on the seabed, slowly being reclaimed by marine life — a poignant reminder of the industrial slaughter that once occurred here.
Site Information
- Depth: 5–20 m
- Difficulty: expert
- Site type: Reef
- Current: Moderate
- Best time: Nov-Feb
- Region: Antarctica
Highlights
- Fur Seals
- King Penguins
- Whaling History
- Kelp Forests