Finding Sir Ernest Shackleton's last ship with John Geiger

Explore: A Canadian Geographic podcast

"That's it!" exclaimed John Geiger as he caught the first glimpse of Quest, the last ship of legendary polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton. Now resting 390 metres below the surface off the coast of Labrador, Quest was Shackleton’s last ship and the vessel he died on.

Geiger, CEO of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, is our guest on this episode of Explore, in which he tells the riveting story of the epic hunt for Quest and Shackleton's legacy.

On June 9, in the rolling seas off Labrador, the RCGS-led Shackleton Quest Expedition made an amazing discovery. This was a historic moment for the Society and in the story of Shackleton, one of the greatest polar explorers of all time.

Geiger gives us an edge-of-your-seat, blow-by-blow description of the open-sea search for Quest, in which mechanical failures and setbacks nearly resulted in an abandoned expedition, just as the ship was discovered.

Geiger, a bestselling author who has written extensively about Shackleton, also discusses the man who inspired the Quest hunt and his well-deserved fame as an explorer and inspirational leader.

Expedition members included the world-renowned shipwreck hunter David Mearns, RCGS Governor and geographer Antoine Normandin and RCGS Explorer-in-Residence and legendary diver Jill Heinerth. The expedition's honorary patrons included Shackleton’s granddaughter, the Hon. Alexandra Shackleton, and Chief Mi’sel Joe, the administrative Chief and spiritual leader of Miawpukek First Nation, in whose traditional waters the wreck was found.

Geiger is the international bestselling author of seven books, including Frozen in Time: The Fate of the Franklin Expedition and The Third Man Factor: Surviving the Impossible. His work has been translated into 14 languages. A graduate of the University of Alberta, Geiger holds an honorary Doctor of Law from the University of Calgary and is the recipient of both the Polar Medal and the Order of Canada.

Watch Inside the search for Quest, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s last ship, a 12-minute documentary captured by RCGS Explorer-in-Residence Jill Heinerth.