International Women’s Day: Exploring Beneath the Surface with Polar Activity Guide Catherine Buckland

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to recognise the people whose curiosity, resilience and leadership help shape expedition travel today — and inspire the next generation of explorers. At Aurora Expeditions, our expedition teams bring together diverse skills, experiences and perspectives that enrich every voyage. Among them is Activity Guide Catherine Buckland, who specialises in polar scuba diving and snorkelling, helping expeditioners safely experience the extraordinary underwater world of Antarctica and other remote destinations.

With extensive experience working in cold‑water and remote marine environments, Catherine combines technical dive leadership with a passion for ocean education and environmental stewardship. Her work supports expeditioners in building confidence in challenging conditions while developing a deeper connection to the marine environment.

Catherine’s journey into the world of diving began with a simple love of the ocean.

“I have loved being in the ocean since a very young age, and all I wanted to do was enjoy working outside,” she says. “I didn’t even know the career I am in now was a career — I just kept pursuing the things I loved doing and seeing if I could make a living from them.”

Her introduction to guiding in Antarctica came unexpectedly — and quickly changed the direction of her career.

“I had a very last‑minute introduction to dive guiding in Antarctica, with a job offer on a voyage that was leaving in two weeks,” Catherine recalls. “I naturally jumped at it, and my background in teaching diving and being a qualified skipper helped me make the transition to polar regions. That was over a decade ago, and I haven’t looked back since.”

Adaptability, teamwork and curiosity have been essential throughout her career — qualities that are particularly important when working in remote expedition environments.

“Being able to work on different ships, in different teams and environments, and staying flexible are all key skills for Antarctica,” she explains.

Over the past decade, Catherine has seen encouraging changes in expedition travel.

“The expedition field now has a huge number of women working on ships, and it’s not a ‘noticeable’ occurrence anymore,” she says.

For Catherine, representation matters not only within expedition teams but also for expeditioners themselves.

“Our guests come from diverse backgrounds, and so should expedition teams,” she explains. “Each team member’s uniqueness is their strength, and this adds greatly to the overall experience.”

Seeing women working in adventure travel roles can also help others imagine similar paths for themselves.

“Having a range of people in adventure travel helps others see that this kind of work might be possible for them too,” she says. “The future is heading in the right direction — we should focus on ensuring the right person is in the role.”

With more than 20 years of experience teaching diving, Catherine finds the most rewarding part of her work is helping others achieve something they once thought impossible.

“It is always a joy to see someone overcome whatever challenge they face,” she says. “If I can help someone do something they didn’t think was possible — like snorkelling in Antarctica — then I absolutely want to help make that happen.”

Building that confidence begins with understanding each guest’s concerns.

“Patience, gentle encouragement and addressing what people are most concerned about make all the difference,” Catherine explains.

Working in Antarctica has also shaped her own sense of resilience.

“Antarctica is in charge when you’re working there,” she says. “Staying calm and making good decisions in challenging conditions builds confidence over time.”

For young women considering a future in ocean exploration or expedition travel, Catherine’s advice is simple.

“Go for it. Keep working, listen to good advice and be thankful for opportunities when they come up,” she says. “And when you’re in a position to help the next generation, do that too.”

Looking back, Catherine says many moments stand out, but one in particular remains unforgettable: supporting a swimmer who became the first person to swim from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean around Cape Horn.

Stories like these reflect the spirit of expedition travel — curiosity, courage and connection to the natural world — and the people who help make those experiences possible for others.

This International Women’s Day, Aurora Expeditions celebrates the women across our expedition teams, ships and global community who help create meaningful experiences in the world’s most remote places.