Snorkel Alaska
Immerse yourself in Southeast Alaska's breathtaking underwater world as you snorkel the calm and clear waters of Mountain Point in Ketchikan. You'll stay toasty warm in a state-of-the-art 7mm wetsuit complete with hood, boots and gloves as you hover among Alaska's diverse and colorful marine life. Thanks to long summer days and the lack of glaciers in this area water temperatures reach a surprising 65 degrees in mid-summer! Mountain Point is Southeast Alaska's premier snorkeling destination. The site has shallow tide pools teeming with marine life and steep underwater rock walls for freediving, all just five miles from your ship. Roundtrip transportation and everything you need to snorkel safely and comfortably are included. On the way to the site, we’ll stop at the shop and change into your wetsuit in the comfort of our heated dressing rooms. Our shop is conveniently located on the way to Mountain Point. There is secure storage for your belongings and all equipment is provided for this truly unique adventure. All tours are team led by Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) professionals with Snorkeling Tour Guide, Rescue Diver, Divemaster or SCUBA Instructor certifications and CPR and First Aid certifications.
We provided the highest quality equipment, complete with prescription masks, SCUBAPRO fins and optional weight belts for freediving. Roundtrip transportation, complete instruction, in-water supervision and entertaining narrative make this award-winning excursion suitable for beginners and experienced snorkelers alike. During your one-hour guided marine life tour you will observe a variety of multi-colored sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Discover the myriad of fish and colorful invertebrates that inhabit these waters while snorkeling over the kelp forest. Back at the shop, enjoy a hot beverage before returning to your ship. Established in 2001 we are Alaska's most experienced outfit. 7 time winner of the Princess Cruises Shore Excursion of the Year award. 2009 recipient of the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau Excellence in Tourism Award. A truly unique experience awaits you.
Minimum weight is 80 lbs; maximum weight is 260 lbs. Remember to bring a towel, a swimsuit and an extra pair of socks to wear under the wetsuit. Waiver release form must be signed. Participants should be reasonably physically fit. Past or present medical conditions may restrict participation. Suggested age limit is 65 depending on your level of physical fitness. We snorkel from a rocky beach where currents may be present.
Your journey begins at the Ketchikan Visitors Center Liquid Sunshine Gauge located on Berth 2 in downtown Ketchikan. You will be met by one of your guides and loaded up into our Ford Transit Hightop Van for the short 10 minute drive to the Snorkel Alaska shop. Along the way your guide will provide a full set of instructions on all of the equipment you will be using during your 3 hour tour. The shop is 4 miles from downtown Ketchikan and once you arrive there you will be outfitted with a full 7mm wetsuit complete with hood, boots and gloves. Once you have your suit on we'll make a quick stop at our equipment truck to get your mask, fins and snorkel. Once everyone is outfitted with all the gear we will hop on our bus for the 1 mile drive down to our snorkeling site, Mountain Point. Mountain Point is Ketchikan's favorite snorkeling destination. The site has shallow tide pools and steep underwater rock walls that can entertain first time and experienced snorkelers alike. At Mountain Point there is a nice bluff overlooking the water where your guides will happily take photos of your all dressed up in your wetsuits. We then offer up optional weightbelts for those looking for a little more adventure in the form of freediviing. After a quick safety briefing on the beach the guides will assist with donning the rest of the equipment. From there everyone enters the water for a one hour guided marine life tour. We guarantee an hour in the water but we often spend up to one hour and fifteen minutes. During the guided marine life tour guides will allow snorkelers to handle some of the more durable creatures will providing and entertaining and informative narrative. The tour pattern for the day varies based on the tides and current but you will cover the whole site in about 45 to 50 minutes. After that you can enjoy some free time snorkeling. When it's time to get out you will be led back up to the equipment truck where you can start turning in some of your gear. We have a big cooler for hot water in the back of the equipment truck which you can wash off some of the salt and pour it inside your suit for your own personal hot tub! It's then one mile back to the shop where you can get out of the wetsuit, take a hot shower and fill up on tea, coffee and hot cocoa. Souvenir shirts, sweatshirts and hats are available for purchase before the drive back downtown. You will find we are very punctual with our tour timing and often get you back a little early.