Emperor Penguin Chicks Take 50-Foot Plunge in Never-Before-Seen Moment Captured by National Geographic

In a world-first, National Geographic captures rare footage of emperor penguin chicks leaping off a 50-foot ice cliff into the Southern Ocean for their very first swim.

In a historic first, National Geographic has released extraordinary footage showing emperor penguin chicks launching themselves off a 50-foot ice cliff, capturing their inaugural dive into the ocean.
The clip shows nearly 700 chicks gathered at the brink of the icy ledge, hesitating as they survey the deep waters below. When one bold chick takes the first leap, it becomes a signal for the rest, who follow in a flurry of motion. The first chick hits the frigid waters below and pops up moments later, swimming confidently into the vast expanse—an awe-inspiring testament to nature’s instincts.Bertie Gregory, an acclaimed cinematographer with National Geographic, captured the dramatic scene after spending two months camped out with a massive emperor penguin colony in Antarctica.

“What drives me is the hope that just around the next corner, there might be something no one has ever witnessed before,” Gregory said during an interview with Good Morning America.Gregory explained that emperor chicks typically take their first swim from low sea ice, just a foot or two above sea level. However, this time, he noticed the chicks heading toward a different route. “I flew the drone to see where they were going, and to my surprise, they had lined up on the edge of a giant ice cliff,” he said.Every January, young emperor penguins make their way from their breeding grounds to the ocean. This journey is crucial—it’s the first time they test their swimming ability and begin their life at sea. But this year, their usual path was blocked, leaving them with no option but to leap from the icy precipice.

“They began jumping off, one by one, plunging 50 feet into the Southern Ocean,” Gregory said. “There were large ice chunks floating in the water, making it almost like landing on concrete.” Despite the danger, the chicks not only survived but thrived—surfacing with confidence and swimming for the first time.“This is their first swim ever, the very beginning of their life at sea,” Gregory said, marveling at their resilience. “It’s something I’ll never forget.”