Sometimes visited as a Zodiac cruise with a landing at nearby Mikkelsen Harbour.
Rating: * * * *
Why Visit?
Although it is little visited, Curtiss Bay can be a rewarding zodiac cruise on this part of the Peninsula and there is one small landing site. There are often many large icebergs in the bay and whales and seals (including Leopard seals) may be seen on floes. The goal of most cruises is to round Seaplane Point to the small glacier-lined cove behind. The three kilometer long ice cliffs here are very active so one is likely to see large blocks of ice breaking off and crashing into the smooth, reflective water. While much of Curtiss Bay is lined by sheer ice walls, to the north of the cover there is a small rocky promontory covered in snow where landings are possible.
Where is it?
Curtiss Bay is on the Northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula, north of Cape Herschel, only a few miles directly South of Trinity Island.
Challenges?
None for zodiac cruising, but the few landing sites are small, rocky, icy and limited in scope.
Wildlife
There are a few small colonies of Chinstrap penguins and Blue eyed shags in the bay, and later in the season, Fur seals and Humpback whales will sometimes visit.
Geography
On Argentinean charts, this bay is rather harshly named Bahia Inutil or Useless Bay. In 1960 it was named by Britain after Glenn Curtiss (1878-1930), the first American builder of seaplanes (hence Seaplane Point within the bay).
Human activities
None
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