Scuba Diving at Shag Rocks

This expedition offers a unique opportunity to visit this remote location. Most vessels steer well clear of the rocks. Weather permitting, we will spend several days birding there and photographing the forbidding cliffs.

Shag Rocks, a remote and captivating group of rocky islets, rises dramatically from the vast expanse of the Southern Ocean. They lie approximately 150 miles west of South Georgia Island. Named after the imperial shags, a species of seabird that populates the area, these rugged, wave-lashed rocks create a surreal and awe-inspiring seascape. Standing alone in the open ocean, the Shag Rocks serve as an essential habitat for many seabirds, including shags, albatross, and other species.

In addition, for the scuba divers aboard, we will attempt to dive the rocks. There is no record of anyone ever having been scuba diving here before, so this will be truly a record-setting trip. Diving at Shag Rocks requires experience and preparation due to the cold temperatures, strong currents, and unpredictable weather. Expedition leaders and dive supervisors will assess both conditions and demonstrated dive skills before allowing any given individual to dive. There are no guarantees that, even if you are a diver on the trip, the weather and sea state will allow diving, or that you will be permitted to dive here.