Mumsysailor Posted April 9, 2013 #1 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I've booked a snorkelling excursion for our trip to Alaska in June. What can I expect? I know they provide all the equipment including a special wet suit but I've only been snorkelling in warmer climates and can't imagine what this trip might bring. Any experiences or insights would be gratefully received. :) Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sherryf Posted April 9, 2013 #2 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I assume you are taking the tour in Ketchikan. Have you looked at their web site: http://www.snorkelalaska.com/ Lots of good information and photos there. The FAQ and guest comments should be particularly helpful in answering your questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumsysailor Posted April 9, 2013 Author #3 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I assume you are taking the tour in Ketchikan. Have you looked at their web site: http://www.snorkelalaska.com/ Lots of good information and photos there. The FAQ and guest comments should be particularly helpful in answering your questions. Thank you so much for the link. :cool: Now I'm really excited about doing this and I can show my friends the website - I'm sure my photos won't do the trip justice. :):) Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dustyroad Posted April 9, 2013 #4 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I have read of one member who did this and they loved it. they said there were some gorgeous sites too be seen in the water. yes, the water was chilly at first but well worth it they said. do a search here for snorkel tour or snorkeling and something might come up to help you out. have fun. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserguyAK Posted April 9, 2013 #5 Share Posted April 9, 2013 I have never met a person who didn't LOVE this experience! Enjoy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animal_cookie Posted April 24, 2013 #6 Share Posted April 24, 2013 is ketchikan the only place in alaska that offers snorkeling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 24, 2013 #7 Share Posted April 24, 2013 is ketchikan the only place in alaska that offers snorkeling? Yes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdslkmj Posted April 24, 2013 #8 Share Posted April 24, 2013 We did the snorkeling there five years ago in June and had a blast! It was our first experience with cold water snorkeling...the suit warms up pretty quickly once you're in the water and the sites were beautiful! My favorites were the tiny pastel colored jelly fish - pinks, purples, blues!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animal_cookie Posted April 24, 2013 #9 Share Posted April 24, 2013 We did the snorkeling there five years ago in June and had a blast! It was our first experience with cold water snorkeling...the suit warms up pretty quickly once you're in the water and the sites were beautiful! My favorites were the tiny pastel colored jelly fish - pinks, purples, blues!! cold water snorkeling is fun. i tried it last year when i was iceland. i really want to see jellyfish :) although in iceland i wore a drysuit, it looks like the operators in alaska use wetsuits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 24, 2013 #10 Share Posted April 24, 2013 cold water snorkeling is fun. i tried it last year when i was iceland. i really want to see jellyfish :) although in iceland i wore a drysuit, it looks like the operators in alaska use wetsuits. Jellyfish are common to see in Bermuda. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animal_cookie Posted April 24, 2013 #11 Share Posted April 24, 2013 Jellyfish are common to see in Bermuda. :) while that maybe true, i don't plan on going to bermuda in the next few weeks :p if i was planning a trip just to swim with jellyfish, i would go to jellyfish lake in palau Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
animal_cookie Posted May 22, 2013 #12 Share Posted May 22, 2013 i just wanted to update this thread to say that the snorkeling in ketchikan was quite awesome. very different from snorkeling in the caribbean or mexico. there were jellyfish everywhere and lots of starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. there were also some schools of fish. the wetsuits are really thick and a bit difficult to put on. the changing areas are just two big rooms and they give you a big bag to put all your clothing, shoes and towel in. afterwards there are hot showers outside to rinse off in. the water was cold for about the first 3-5 minutes when you get in. but then the water in the suit warms up to your body temperature and you don't really notice the cold. i didn't start to get cold again until it was time to get out. the guides were all very knowledgeable and drove down to pick up various sea life. it was cool to see the things up close. they also were around to take pictures for people that had underwater cameras. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrusselsGirl07 Posted May 23, 2013 #13 Share Posted May 23, 2013 We have booked to do this next year! I never expected to be snorkelling in Alaska when I first started researching the trip. It sounds really fun! Did you get to see any sea otters while you were in the water? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirasha Posted May 23, 2013 #14 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Take a look at this recent review, the OP did snorkeling in Ketchikan: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1843443&page=7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrusselsGirl07 Posted May 23, 2013 #15 Share Posted May 23, 2013 Thanks for posting the link to the review, it sounds very fun Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumsysailor Posted July 5, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Well I went and did the snorkelling and I absolutely loved it. Pity I couldn't handle my camera so well in the gloves so didn't get fantastic pics but got some. Saw everything I expected to see, never once felt cold, the jelly fish were amazing to watch up close and I would do it again and again and again. Unfortunately DH doesn't swim so I went on my own and had to rely on others to take a pic of me in all the gear. Probably for the best - not a pretty sight. :eek: I would recommend this to anyone. Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrusselsGirl07 Posted July 5, 2013 #17 Share Posted July 5, 2013 Thanks for letting us know you had a blast on your snorkelling adventure! Good to know that it is harder to take photos with the gloves on. Can't wait to go next year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trouble1964 Posted July 5, 2013 #18 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I'm planning on doing this! I've had people tell me that I will get cold, even though I've read that I won't. I'm glad to see that there are gloves to wear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sonnyjane Posted July 5, 2013 #19 Share Posted July 5, 2013 I'm planning on doing this! I've had people tell me that I will get cold, even though I've read that I won't. I'm glad to see that there are gloves to wear. My HAL cruise in September offers wetsuit snorkeling with a 7mm suit in Ketchikan or drysuit snorkeling in Sitka. I have a drysuit certification for SCUBA and have done dives in Washington. In those cases it was my face and hands that got cold, but the rest of me stayed warm. I own a heavy duty 7mm wetsuit though, and while that gets me through here in San Diego, I think I'd be chilly in Alaska. If you can find someone doing a drysuit snorkel instead, I'd recommend that, but if you can't, I will say that cold-water diving/snorkeling is amazing, just need to muscle through and think warm thoughts lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovely_serenity Posted July 8, 2013 #20 Share Posted July 8, 2013 Honestly, when I first read the thread title, I imagined a guy freezing to death in the icy Alaska waters LOL. The excursion sounds pretty awesome though (: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barb Nahoumi Posted August 10, 2013 #21 Share Posted August 10, 2013 Jellyfish are common to see in Bermuda. :) Come to Boston Harbor------Moon jellies are plentiful there. I love to watch Jellies---------in aquariums, or from the side of a boat. Not anywhere near me, because I've been badly stung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattie00 Posted August 12, 2013 #22 Share Posted August 12, 2013 We snorkeled in Ketchikan on July 27th and it was absolutely breathtaking. The 7mm wetsuits were more than adequate and kept us warm. Little bit of cold water at the beginning of the swim but we were in the suits for long enough before we entered the water that we couldn't wait to enter. Saw amazing starfish that were very different from those in tropical climates and beautiful kelp forests. Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to something a little unusual for Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geekypenguin Posted August 13, 2013 #23 Share Posted August 13, 2013 We did this in early June and it was awesome! The tour is a great value for the money and we had so much fun. My pictures didn't do it justice, but here's one of my favorite ones. You stay plenty warm in the wetsuits and the guides were friendly and attentive. For those of you who may be larger people, my husband and I were both towards the upper end of their weight limit and we had no trouble getting wetsuits that fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrusselsGirl07 Posted August 14, 2013 #24 Share Posted August 14, 2013 Thanks mattie00 and geekypenguin for your recent reports - did you go straight back to the ship to shower and change and then go back out into Ketchikan? Or where there showering facilities right there? I am booked and ready to go and can't wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mumsysailor Posted August 15, 2013 Author #25 Share Posted August 15, 2013 Thanks mattie00 and geekypenguin for your recent reports - did you go straight back to the ship to shower and change and then go back out into Ketchikan? Or where there showering facilities right there? I am booked and ready to go and can't wait! When they pick you up from the port they take you to their base where you get fitted with a wetsuit etc. Then they drive you to the cove where you get fitted with goggles (including prescription if required), snorkel and gloves. When you come out of the water they give you warm water from the van to pour into your suit to warm you up if you need it. After that, it's a short ride back to the base to shower, change and drink hot chocolate. There's also an opportunity to buy souvenirs. Then it's back in the van to the port. They're lovely people and it's well worth doing. Hope you have a really fun experience. I thought it was awesome! Mumsy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.