Support Jami Cantrell's Sea Women Antarctic Expedition

Hello all! I have some pretty exciting news to share with you!

I have news I never thought I’d be able to share…

I’m going to Antarctica.

Not as a tourist. But as part of an all-women expedition team—an incredible group of explorers, artists, scientists, and divers documenting our changing planet. I’ll be joining them as a photographer, videographer, and storyteller, capturing the wild, raw beauty of a place I’ve dreamed about since I was a little girl. Growing up one of my favorite shows to watch was Animals Planet, well, and Free Willy of course lol. The breathtaking landscapes and wild creatures seemed like a distant, otherworldly realm—a place I could never touch.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to be out there—with the whales, the ice, the impossible. I wanted to be a biologist, but life had other plans. A few concussions in college made learning feel like a stranger and suddenly, my brain didn’t work the way it used to. My dreams felt like they were slipping away.

That feeling was hopeless and one that ate me away. Then one day, I picked up a camera—and everything changed. Through the lens, I found my voice again. I found purpose and I found a way back to the wild. I started telling stories with my photos—stories of endangered species, fragile ecosystems, and the deep emotional connection we have with the natural world. I poured myself into the art, hoping that someone, somewhere, might see what I saw—and care.

That work has since been shared, featured or published by PETA, The News Tribune, Fox Weather, King5, KOMO, Grit City Magazine, the San Juan Journal, Skagit Fisheries, and more throughout the country. I earned my degree in Visual Media, and I'm still working toward that biology degree—I'll finish it after I return from this expedition. I haven’t let go of that dream, I just found a new way to reach it.

Joining Sea Women Expeditions is something I’ve wished for years. I watched from afar, thinking maybe someday.

Now, someday is here.

This trip is self-funded, and while the costs are real, so is the opportunity to tell stories that can move hearts, spark change, and remind people why this planet is worth fighting for.

Little me wouldn’t believe this is happening. Honestly, some days I still don’t. But I’m packing my camera, my courage, and every ounce of grit I’ve got—and I’m heading to the bottom of the world.

Thank you for cheering me on. The journey is just beginning.

About the team

Sea Women Expeditions was founded by Susan R. Eaton and is comprised of an incredibly talented and passionate team of women ocean scientists, marine biologists, explorers, movie-makers, photographers, artists, educators, Inuit advisors and team members, and polar divers and snorkelers from all across the globe.

The Sea Women scout, document and record "ocean change". This involves melting glaciers, disappearing sea ice, warming waters, ocean acidification, and shifting sea life populations.

“Our mission is to scout, record, and document disappearing sea ice in the Arctic. We create opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous women to gain leadership skills and field experience in Exploration and the Arts & Sciences. Together, these women create planet-wide ripple effects.

* Into the Snorkel Zone

Studying disappearing sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic regions

Bringing the Ocean to Eye Level

Via remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), mobile aquariums, diver propulsion vehicles, and snorkeling & scuba diving 

Investing in Women & Girls

Developing dynamic leaders to tackle societal change and climate change in the Arctic

Women Role Models

Creating opportunities for women and girls to excel in Exploration and the Arts & Sciences

Collaboration

Combining Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Research to mitigate the impacts of societal change and climate change in the Arctic

Vision

Our vision is to foster a circumpolar network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous women leaders who will shape the future of the Arctic and our planet. 

We envision equity for women, and their inclusion in the development of circumpolar policies on economic prosperity, science and technology, human rights, food security, and strategies to mitigate the impacts of societal change and climate change in a warming Arctic.

Further, we envision a world where Indigenous and northern peoples collaborate to build vibrant, resilient, and sustainable communities in the Arctic.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We respect and honour the diverse histories and cultures of the Indigenous Nations upon whose lands and waters we live, traverse, and explore. We honour and respect those in our community of different races, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, classes, religions, ages, and the intersection of all of these. 

Providing a collegial and safe environment for exploration and discovery, we encourage a culture of inclusion for women and those who identify as women. We place human rights, dignity, and respect at the center of our conversations, listening, and learning.