Life Beneath Antarctic Ice

Antarctica Ice Flow Underwater Photography
Sea Life

Free Passage
Orcas sprint along a channel which has opened in the ice. They are headed deep into McMurdo Sound, where they hope to find food. They must hurry, however, for wind conditions can cause the channel to freeze again, cutting off the whales' access to air.

Get the Latest Photos from Time.com
Get TIME photos and pictures of the week delivered directly to your inbox.