[1] The coastline in the vicinity of the bay was first seen and named the Ingrid Christensen Coast by Captain Mikkelsen of the Norwegian ship Thorshavn on 20 February 1935.

Oblique aerial photographs of the coastline were taken on a Lars Christensen financed expedition in 1937 as well as by the US Navy's Operation Highjump in 1947 for reconnaissance purposes.

In the 1954-55 summer, the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition (ANARE) explored the waters of Prydz Bay on the Kista Dan.

Further aerial photography was undertaken by ANARE from 1957 to 1960, with the first recorded visit to the bay taking place in August 1957 by a surveying party from Davis Station.

During the return flight the area was photographed and named Amanda Bay after the newly-born daughter of the pilot, RAAF Squadron Leader Peter Clemence.