Sitka Kelp Forests

Sitka's Channel Islands kelp forests represent one of Alaska's premier cold-water diving experiences featuring towering bull kelp canopies, giant Pacific octopu...

Alaskan cuisine centers on extraordinary seafood from cold North Pacific waters. King crab, halibut, and five species of Pacific salmon are cornerstones. Fresh oysters from Kachemak Bay, spot shrimp, and reindeer sausage provide unique regional flavors. Anchorage features innovative chefs creating modern Alaskan cuisine. Wild berry jams, sourdough bread, and smoked salmon jerky are popular provisions for dive trips. Local breweries pair well with the fresh seafood and the midnight sun summer season makes for unforgettable dining experiences.

Hotel Captain Cook

Sitka Hotel

Four Points Juneau

Kodiak Legacy Hotel

Alaska offers extraordinary cold-water diving in pristine marine environments, from Sitka's kelp forests with giant Pacific octopus and sea lions to Kodiak Island's underwater puffin rookeries. Nutrient-rich North Pacific waters support sunflower sea stars, plumose anemones, and king crab creating colorful invertebrate landscapes. Sitka's Channel Islands provide accessible diving with rockfish and sea lions among the kelp. Whittier and Prince William Sound feature shore dives among WWII ruins with deep soft corals. Ice diving in frozen lakes provides surreal experiences in crystal-clear water beneath thick ice sheets. Drysuit diving is mandatory but the reward is wilderness diving found nowhere else on Earth.

Alaska

Optimal conditions with excellent visibility.

Reduced visibility or challenging conditions.

Fly into the nearest regional airport and arrange ground transport. Local dive operators provide boat access to offshore sites.

Dive Sites in Alaska

Sitka Kelp Forests