Lemaire Channel Dive Site — Antarctica
About Lemaire Channel
The Lemaire Channel — nicknamed 'Kodak Gap' for its photogenic beauty — is a dramatic 11km passage barely 1,600m wide at its narrowest point, flanked by sheer 1,000m cliffs and hanging glaciers. Beneath the mirror-calm surface, the underwater walls plunge steeply, encrusted with cold-water gorgonian fans, bright orange soft corals, and dense sponge gardens that rival tropical reefs in colour if not diversity. The channel acts as a funnel for nutrient-rich currents, attracting krill swarms that in turn draw humpback whales and penguins. Diving the walls, you may hear the resonant songs of nearby whales echoing through the water — a sound that seems to vibrate through your entire body. The combination of dramatic above-water scenery and rich underwater life makes this one of the peninsula's most rewarding dive sites.
Site Information
- Depth: 5–30 m
- Difficulty: advanced
- Site type: Wall
- Current: Moderate
- Best time: December-February
- Region: Antarctica
Highlights
- Narrow Channel
- Ice Walls
- Dramatic Scenery