National Geographic Explorer pulled up to the dock at Sisimiut early on Wednesday, ready for a morning of culture and adventure. Sisimiut is a relatively small town in the grand scheme of society, but ranks as the third largest municipality in Greenland with 6,000 inhabitants.
Guests were welcomed by a warm day, rare in the Arctic. Beautiful Danish style, colorful homes lined the ridgeline and busy locals bustled about. Photo walks went off in one direction, where historical walks headed to the museum and church. Individuals going at their own pace walked into town, finding souvenirs and goods to purchase. Many small shops of arts and crafts are positioned alongside small winding roads, such as a place called Qiviut. Qiviut is a local owned establishment, which weaves and knits muskox fur. The handwarmers, sweaters, socks, and neck gaiters are extremely soft, and warmer by weight than lamb’s wool. Further on back through town guests could peek into backyards to see sled dogs and their pups lounging in the sun or playing amongst the weeds. This town is lovely, laid out in such a comfortable fashion, and extremely easy to navigate.
While guests were observing small town Greenland life, the dive team got suited up for an adventure. Just two miles off the bow of the ship lay an enticing group of small islands, yet unseen by Lindblad diver’s eyes. The site was chosen, the Zodiac zoomed off, and the scuba team rolled back off the boat and into the water. Cold water is home to an incredible productive ecosystem—and Sisimiut proved no different. Kelp forests lined the sheer rock wall down to a sandy bottom, where urchins and sea stars worked hard to make a living. Nudibranchs hid in the kelp and clung to rocks, searching for prey with their ever-sensing rhinophores. Upon ascent, with cold fingers and tired bodies, the last scene shot was a beautiful and large lion’s mane jellyfish effortlessly gliding by near the surface.
As the ship left Sisimiut she would head west, towards Baffin Island. Leaving Greenland behind, it was a day the guests are not soon to forget, in a beautiful corner of the Arctic world.
