The trip was absolutely amazing from start to finish and delivered on the wildlife, the views and the Arctic experience!! We were so lucky with Blue, Fin, Minke and Humpback Whales - one night we were out on deck until 2am watching a humpback literally playing around the boat. We had polar bears and her cubs, walrus and the seals - the dive with them was fantastic!! The boat was really comfortable and the crew were outstanding - they really added to the trip and made it all the more special with their knowledge, expertise and dedication.

Fiona Widnall, London

I have to say the trip was tremendous on all fronts (none less than the company) and I especially want to thank you and all at Aqua-Firma for the excellent service throughout.

I'll certainly keep looking at what other trips you have on offer eg. Greenland, Amazon (Antarctica??!!).

David Gallagher, Cheshire

The holiday was fantastic, a really great experience.  It was great seeing Polar Bears, Walrus, Minke Wale and all the birds.

Thank you for all your help, it has been a pleasure dealing with you.
 
Claire Towers, Madrid

The 'Arctic Diving, Photography & Wildlife Expedition' is a trip of my life time that I would never forget!!!  For a man whose life-time passion is indeed traveling, Aqua-Firma is definitely the best traveling company I have ever traveled with so far in my life. The services provided, from taking care of my luggage sent to the ship by express mail to managing all the details in diving, landing and other excellent activities, are way beyond my wildest expectations.  Charlotte is such a great expedition leader and she treats everyone not only as her client but also as her best friend. She even organized a "surprise" birthday party for me on the ship at 79.5 North Latitude, which will be certainly difficult, if not impossible, to be topped in the future.

I have enjoyed this trip so much that I have already booked three other tours with Aqua-Firma, i.e. Whale Shark Research & Conservation in Seychelles in October, 2008, and Antarctic Diving, Photography & Wildlife Expedition and Galapagos Diving in February, 2009

Thank you again, Charlotte and Aqua-Firma, for turning my Arctic adventure into a wonderful life-time memory!!!

Dr Shaowen Lin

I don't know if all the trips are like this, but it really did rank as a best trip pretty much ever for everyone I talked to, including me. Some had travelled the world more than others I know but everyone came away with a warm feeling which won't go away. I think sometimes things just click all round, and the mixture of diving with photography makes for a good mix. The variation in ages was also important to this and was just right.

Overall everyone thought the trip was superbly organised, and the staff exceptional. Everyone talked about how good the food was. The zodiac landings and cruises were well and gently organised, outstanding in their variety and interest, and as I said before a photography dreamland. The bridge access was also a winner.. It was all part of the atmosphere of being part of the vessel, and something that adds to what everyone gets from trips like this which after all are a fair investment for most. The "experts" were also good, with the pick being Franco and Paul's talks, the latter which will have us all checking National Geographic pages for the next year or so...

Chris Dobbs

After being part of Aqua-Firma's diving and photography expedition to Antarctica this March I didn't think I could have another experience of a life time. But Aqua-Firma's Arctic diving and Photography expedition that I have just returned from has surpassed all my expectations. Not only did we have three great amazing wildlife photographers (Paul Nicklen, Franco Banfi and Rick Price) on board but we saw Polar Bears, Walrus, Minke whales, Beluga whales, ring seals, fur seals, arctic fox, reindeer, arctic flowers, puffins, little auks, arctic terns and many more beautiful birds. Some of our animal encounters were up close and personal and some a little more in the distance.

The diving was a makro fest and I got to see lots of cliones, which is something I have longed to do since I heard about them. As the pack ice was fast moving we had to change our course a few times and to take part in expedition diving, in sites that where unknown, is just amazing. The dive guides couldn't do more to ensure we enjoyed our diving and ensured our safety at all times, especially during a pack ice dive.

I did enjoy the landings that I chose to join, the land expedition crew where amazing in their knowledge and couldn't do more to ensure we enjoyed ourselves but were kept safe.

All the staff did anything and everything to ensure we all had an amazing experience, divers and photographers, and having Charlotte there from Aqua- Firma as our personal guide, ensured we were all extra special expeditioners.

The ice breaking afternoon, the midnight sun, the walrus colony, the clione, the amazing group of people I met, and of course the polar bears where my highlights in yet another experience of a lifetime. I am going with Aqua-Firma to the Seychelles this October for a Whale Shark Conservation, I am sure it will be the third experience of a lifetime and all in the same year. Thank you so much to Charlotte and everyone at Aqua-Firma.

Stacy Valentine RN BA (Hons) PGD