At the heart of every great expedition voyage is a great Expedition Leader. This person doesn’t just manage logistics—they shape the entire experience. The Expedition Leader coordinates the work of the expedition staff and collaborates closely with the ship’s Captain to assess what’s possible each day, given wind, waves, ice, and other variables. Equally important, they help manage the expectations of the passengers. For many travelers, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime journey. Understandably, they hope for perfect weather and an itinerary that unfolds exactly as advertised. But in expedition travel, that’s rarely how it works. Flexibility is part of the adventure.
We were fortunate to have Jamie Watts as our Expedition Leader.
Jamie’s enthusiasm for wildlife is absolutely infectious. He brings not only deep knowledge but also a contagious curiosity that draws you in. A seasoned expedition professional and accomplished scientist, Jamie’s background is as impressive as it is wide-ranging.
Here’s a brief overview of his experience:
Jamie Watts
Naturalist, Marine Ecologist, Expedition Leader
Jamie Watts has spent his life immersed in the oceans, studying large-scale ecology and some of the most biologically rich environments on the planet. He worked for two years as a marine and fisheries biologist for the British Antarctic Survey and the government of South Georgia—total immersion in one of Earth’s most extraordinary marine ecosystems.
Jamie has served as a naturalist, lecturer, assistant expedition leader, and guide in both the Arctic and Antarctic across many seasons. His areas of expertise include food webs, marine mammals, seabirds, glaciology, ecological impact, and climate change. When not on expedition, he consults on global fisheries, focusing on logistics, data analysis, and management of large-scale offshore fisheries such as tuna, krill, and Patagonian toothfish. He also played a role in establishing the global network that combats illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
With over 840 days at sea and more than 57,000 nautical miles logged—most of it in remote and challenging conditions—Jamie brings a level of field experience that few can match. He’s also a certified PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer with more than 1,200 dives from tropical reefs to polar seas.
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What’s more, he’s the quiet author of a respected field guide on Antarctic marine wildlife. While Jamie never mentioned the book himself, other members of the team occasionally credited “Jamie’s book” when sharing a diagram or identification chart. It’s easy to find if you’re curious—and well worth a read.
You can find a statement of Jamie’s guiding philosophy on the Living Earth Initiative website:
Closing Thoughts
Expedition travel isn’t about sticking rigidly to a schedule—it’s about embracing the wild, the unexpected, and the wonder of being fully present in extraordinary places. A great Expedition Leader may not steer the ship; but they shape the spirit of the journey. With someone like Jamie at the helm, you’re not just in good hands—you’re in inspired ones.
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