Southeast alaska Scuba Diving
August 2017 and 2018
6 person trips

We'll be spending six days cruising the waters of Alaska's Inside Passage on a liveaboard in August.  This will be a scouting-style expedition, with no set schedule between our departure from and arrival back into Ketchikan.  As a dedicated SCUBA diving expedition, we'll try to get in a few dives per day in what are unquestionably world-class waters.  Back at surface there will be plenty of wildlife and stunning scenery to take in while you dry off.  We're hoping for humpback whales, orcas, sea otters, steller's sea lions, harbor seals, bears of both colors, moose, and a plethora of seabirds, complete with a possibility of puffins, to name a few.  If we're really lucky we may even have some sea lions come by to say "hi" while we're in the water!

Aside from the wildlife and the diving you'll get to spend a week kicked back relaxing in the misty fjords of the Tongass National Forest, the world's largest temperate rainforest and the largest national forest in the United States.  If fishing or kayaking are your thing we'll have fishing gear and two kayaks on board as well, though you'll need to buy your own license should you choose to fish.  We will also try to get in a shore excursion or two in order to stretch our legs should the opportunity present itself. Our itinerary is intentionally a bit vague, since we adjust our schedule daily to fit existing weather, sea conditions, and guest interests.

The weather will be cool most of the time and rainy at least some of the time.  Plan accordingly!  We can expect surface temps of about 50 to 65 F (10 to 18 C) and water temps of a balmy 55 F (13 C).  

Now, a word on diving:  The aim of this venture is for all of our participants to have fun and to make it home safely.  A big part of that is having safe, experienced divers in the water.  What that means is that you know your gear and you know yourself.  We strongly recommend at least a PADI Advanced Open Water certification and twenty drysuit dives, preferably in cold water, prior to joining this expedition.  We will be hours, if not days, from the nearest hyperbaric chamber (it's in Seattle, in case you're wondering), so we will be advising caution whenever in the water.  That being said, great dives are easy to come by when sticking to the easy end of recreational limits in these waters. We do recommend dive insurance - and for this price, it simply doesn't make sense not to have it!

Cost Includes:

• 6 days (5 nights) on the liveaboard charter ship
• 3 meals per day and non-alcoholic beverages while onboard
• Two nights of onshore accommodations at the end of the trip
• Fishing gear
• SCUBA cylinders and weights

Not Included:

• Travel insurance (required)
• Round-trip airfare to Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
• Alcoholic beverages
• Alaska fishing licenses
• All other items not explicitly listed under "Cost Includes"

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