Alaska Undersea Tours

An Alaska undersea tour is a fairly new way of exploring Alaska's underwater landscape and come close to its flora and fauna. In Alaska, undersea tours are typically carried out by tour operators with semi-submersible vessels that make it possible to descent into the Alaskan waters without getting wet.

Alaska is not the Caribbean, so you can't expect to find tropical reefs teaming with clown fish in these waters. Instead, depending on exact location, you may see other fascinating creatures such as king crab, flatfish, halibut, cod, sponges, anemones and rare tree corals. Alaska undersea tours are normally only offered during the summer season, i.e. from May through September.

Each tour operator has its own program, so it is wise to compare various options before making a choice. Here are a few points that can be good to keep in mind when booking an Alaska undersea tour.

  • Ask the tour operator about what's included in the tour. Some tours will for instance show educational videos from the area to give passengers an introduction to the habitat. There are also tour operators that employ marine biologists that explain what's going on outside the window. Last but not least – remember to ask if any food or drinks are included in the price and if you are allowed to bring your own snacks on board in case you get hungry.

  • Some tour operators offer a live dive show that can be watched through the porthole windows of the semi-submersible vessel.

  • Some tour operators offer fish feeding.

  • Some tour operators have a touch pool filled with sea creatures.

  • Some tour operators have underwater cameras to show you things that can't be seen through the windows, e.g. aquatic creatures and rock formations that you pass over.

  • Some vessels offer you the opportunity to go up on deck to see the wildlife above the waters brim, e.g. sea birds and breaching whales.

  • Check the local conditions to find out the best time to go on a tour. For instance, if the coming or going tide is known to make the water murky, avoid those hours unless you are booking a tour that will take you far away from the tidal zone.



Alaska

Alaska is located in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Arctic Ocean to the north. The state is home to a myriad of islands and has nearly 34 000 miles (54 700 km) of tidal shoreline. In Turnagian Arm, south of Anchorage, the tidal differences can be over 35 feet (10 meters), making it one of the world's largest tides.

Alaska has over 3 million lakes and over 12 000 rivers, plus thousands of streams and creeks. The Yukon-Kuskowin Delta, one of the largest river deltas in the world, is found here. Other examples of notable rivers in Alaska is the 500 mile (805 km) Innoko River in western Alaska and the 350 mile (560 km) Colville River of the Arctic Ocean.