The ditty bag is a sailor’s holdall for useful stuff. Whipping twine and needle palm, foul weather gear, spare socks, pants and a bottle of rum. Here is a book which will find a place in the bag of anyone planning a visit, even if only from the comfort of an armchair.

Romping through the history of the discovery of Antarctica (Maoris may have reached the Southern Ocean in the seventh century but it was the early nineteenth before anyone surely saw Antarctic land), the ravages of exploitation and the heroics of exploration, it celebrates today’s remarkable explosion in tourism potential. The mountainous coast, fringed with islands and icebergs, is still incompletely explored, a magnet for expedition vessels and adventurous tourists.

Tony Soper first sailed these promising waters in small research vessels. Exploring poorly charted waters cautiously in search of remote landings they found beaches held by raucous colonies of penguins and somnolent seals. Humpback whales engulfed huge quantities of krill and marauding pods of killer whales chased crabeater seals off ice floes. As expedition leader and lecturer, believing in the value of visitor appreciation in support of conservation, he encourages the concept of introducing small parties of enthusiasts to the remote edges of the world’s wildlife.