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Talk to people about diving and snorkeling and most everyone will have a story about a trip from a warm water destination, with white sands and colorful reef systems and fish. The pictures on this page & in the photo gallery were all taken in southern Southeast Alaska, and represent a fraction of the life we see here.
The same environment that produces the food for the world’s tables (Pacific salmon, halibut, cod, and crab) gives life to some of the most colorful and diverse creatures in the world.
A typical shore dive will provide even the most experienced underwater enthusiast with a host of new and beautiful animals to add to their lifetime species list. Sandy bottoms will provide a dozen species of starfish, sea cucumber, crabs and flounder. Work your way over to the rocks and spend some time looking for colorful nudibranchs, anemones, sponges, scallops, abalone and coral. Every crack and crevice is filled with feather duster worms, cup coral, and fish of every imaginable variety. Alaska doesn’t have the array of colorful tropical fish you have come to know in your local aquarium or warm water excursions, “BUT” has denizens of it’s own to share with you, with beautiful and exotic names: sailfin sculpins, lemon sole, ling cod and decorated war bonnets just to name a few.
Residents of Southeast Alaska are proud of their heritage and by following the teachings of community elders and leaders live in harmony with the sea, whither learning, seeing, or hunter/gather every trip to the ocean is an opportunity to learn more about another culture and see the “bounty of the sea” first hand, leaning from the guides that live here and continue the rhythm and life style that has existed for ages. Herring roe on kelp, sea asparagus, sea cucumber chowder and salmon candy are a few of the local favorites gathered and made from the sea.
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