We cut the outboard and drifted. The bear stopped, turned its enormous head, and looked straight at us. Nobody breathed. This is what happens when you do everything right — and what to do if you don't.
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Protocol Before You Leave the Vessel
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In Svalbard, you are not at the top of the food chain. The bear that approached our zodiac weighed approximately 500kg. We weighed considerably less. Respect is not optional.
Reading Bear Behaviour From a Distance
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Hector has logged over 80,000 nautical miles across six oceans, from the Northwest Passage to the Southern Ocean. He founded Expedition Experience in Sydney, Nova Scotia after a decade leading polar voyages for international operators. He holds an MCA Yacht Master Offshore certificate and STCW safety certifications.