John Dickens

John was born and grew up in Zimbabwe, spending his childhood fishing, chasing insects, watching birds, and gaining a deep appreciation and love of the natural world. He completed his undergraduate studies in Marine Biology and Zoology at Rhodes University in South Africa in 2010, and a master’s degree in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town in 2015.

His first taste of island life was in the Seychelles where he spent half a year helping with turtle, tortoise and bird conservation. Island research then drew him south and he joined the 72nd overwintering team on South Africa’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island. Here he met albatross, penguins and seals for the first time and his life would never be the same! He went on to overwinter twice with the British Antarctic Survey, spending over 3 years living and working on one of the most incredible islands on Earth, South Georgia. In 2020 he moved to Scotland, living in Oban on the west coast for a year, followed by a year in Edinburgh, before finally being drawn back to the islands, this time up north. He now calls the wonderful, windy Orkney Islands home.

John started working as a lecturer and expedition guide in Antarctica and has since enjoyed sharing some wonderful adventures with guests around the British Isles, Iceland, Norway, Faroe Islands, Falkland Islands, and South Georgia.

You’ll most probably find John with a camera around his neck, and when not studying seals and seabirds he will usually be out taking photos or sorting through a massive backlog of images from past excursions!