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The Eastern Pacific

ALASKA AND BRITISH COLUMBIA

Last Frontier Diving and Wilderness Exploration

Alaska’s state nickname is ‘The Last Frontier’ and those that choose to visit and dive the Pacific Northwest from Alaska and British Columbia may well feel that they have entered another realm! The panoply of natural spectacles both above and below the water makes for a truly unique experience – where else in the world can you see nudibranchs and Grizzly Bears in the same week?!

 

The words ‘cold water’ may be enough to put many divers off, but the rewards of diving on Nautilus Explorer’s Alaska and British Columbia itineraries are numerous! The alien-like Wolf Eel, which can grow up to two meters in length, has a remarkably humanoid face, but it’s weird complexion and sheer bulk quickly make you realise why such a creature lives under the water. The Giant Pacific Octopus can reach sizes of up to eight feet (nearly two and a half metres) in length. For those seeking a photograph that’s a little different from the norm this may be your place! Divers in British Columbia can look forward to seeing what the the Kuroshio Current will bring. This stream carries large quantities of warm water across the Pacific Ocean, bringing with it nutrients that attract numerous invertebrates and larger predators. You may even lucky enough to be in Alaskan waters during salmon spawning season. The topography comprises steep walls and drop offs, as well as some shallower kelp forests. You may find that the Steller’s Sealions here are very inquisitive about these strange new visitors to their home. Wall diving in Icy Strait and at the pinnacles of Chichikoff Island is a colourful experience with plenty of critters and soft corals.

 

Nautilus Explorer’s Alaska and British Columbia itineraries offer stunning scenery and breathtaking wildlife encounters, both above and below the water. These trips offer both diving opportunities and top-side excursions in this most photogenic part of the world. You’ll also be able to borrow Nautilus Explorer’s kayaks to get closer to the magnificent icebergs and sweeping glaciers. Icebergs are not just white; see how many different shades of blue, azure and silver you can see in these floating castles. Marvel at the glaciers of Alaska with their backdrop of snow capped peaks, shear rock palisades, waterfalls, rainbows and tidewater races. Humpback Whales, Orcas (or Killer Whales), Steller’s Sealions, Grizzly Bears and Bald Eagles are just some of the top-side attractions.

 

Whilst the crew of Nautilus Explorer have vast experience in these itineraries, Alaskan and British Columbian waters and coastlines are still relatively unexplored and remote. Exact itineraries can never be known in advance as local conditions may dictate that slight alterations to published schedules are made.

 

Current diving at slack water periods is easily handled from a high speed 38-foot dive skiff that is carried on a ramp on the back deck of the Nautilus Explorer. All divers have to do is set up their gear at their station on the skiff and the crew will look after everything else as you speed off to dive sites at 35 mph. Most sites are within 3 or 4 minutes of where they anchor the Nautilus Explorer. Your only job is to be at the dive briefing on time and then jump in the water when you get onsite. The dive skiff will follow you along the site and pick you up when you surface. Hot drinks, snacks and towels will be waiting for you on board.

 

Nautilus Explorer offer four separate itineraries in Alaska and British Columbia. All the itineraries offer excellent opportunities to encounter Humpback Whales, Orcas, Steller’s Sealions and Harbour Seals. The crew also plan on making a number of shore landings to walk the quiet forests and trails of this remote region, as well as to visit some very small and sometimes even abandoned towns dotted along the coastline. Kayaks will be available to use through out the cruise and no prior experience of kayaking is necessary. Think of your kayak as your own miniature ship, small enough to wend between the icebergs and glaciers! Now you can get up really close to the Grizzly Bears! But not too close…

 

 

JUNEAU TO VANCOUVER

 

Day 1: Board Nautilus Explorer in Auke Bay, Juneau and enjoy dinner on board before setting sail through Humpback Whale country. Day 2: This morning you’ll do your checkout dive before dive two of the day on the wreck of the Canadian Pacific Railroad Steamer the Princess Sophia on Vanderbilt Reef. She sank in October 1918 with no survivors. She was grounded in a storm, and although a number of vessels tried to assist her, they could not continue their efforts as the storm grew worse, pushing her off the reef shelf where large rocks had ground holes in her hull. There may also be a chance to inspect the wreck of the steamboat Princess Kathleen a remarkably intact 400-foot long Canadian Pacific Railroad vessel that ran aground and sank to the northwest of Juneau in 1952. Days 3-5: Your activities will depend on the conditions locally but you could expect to be cruising through Icy Strait, Pelican Cove and Baranoff Island, making dives on the soft coral walls. You’re still in humpback territory here to keep those binoculars handy! On day six you can expect to see your first icebergs of the cruise. Nautilus Explorer will cruise Le Conte Bay and you’ll have plenty of chances to stand and gaze at the glaciers and basking Harbour Seals lounging on their icy beds! You’ll even get the chance to take a kayak trip through the icebergs and try and get a bit closer to the seals. Day 7: Depart for Foggy Bay. The diving here is on submerged pinnacles and you can hope to see Wolf Eels, octopi and Rockfish in abundance. In the afternoon you’ll be able to touch dry land again as you clear Canadian customs in Prince Rupert. You’ll make an overnight sailing down the protected waters of the Inside Passage. Day 8: Chance to dive the wreck of the Transpac, which sank propeller first and now perches vertically on a shelf over a trench 500 meters deep! What makes this wreck so intriguing is the fact that she rests vertically where she landed. You’ll get to visit the eerily vacant ghost town of Butedale, a former salmon cannery only accessible by boat and get your land legs back with a walk to Butedele Lake. This afternoon the vessel will set sail for Carter Bay for some more kayaking. Day 9: Visit to Shushartie Bay. Rather than walk along the beach under palm trees you’ll be wandering along the beach under pine trees! But watch out, because Black Bears lurk amongst the trees. Perhaps you’d rather be under the waves with the Wolf Eels and Giant Pacific Octopi! Day 10: Morning dive on the colourful soft corals of Browning Pass. Keep a lookout for the macro life here. Afternoon cruise to Johnstone Strait with one of the highest concentrations of marine mammals on Earth! There have been over 300 Orcas spotted here in one sighting! Day 11: Arrive at Steveston, Vancouver and disembark.

 

 

VANCOUVER TO SITKA

 

Day 1: Sunset departure up the Strait of Georgina. Day 2: Morning dive on the colourful soft corals of Browning Pass. Keep a lookout for the macro life here. Afternoon cruise to Johnstone Strait with one of the highest concentrations of marine mammals on Earth! There have been over 300 Orcas spotted here in one sighting! Alternatively you can make your first kayak trip, but mind those Orcas! Day 3: Visit to Shushartie Bay. Rather than walking under palm trees you’ll be wandering along the beach under pine trees! Keep a look out, because Black Bears lurk amongst the trees. Perhaps you’d rather be under the waves on Dillon Rock with the Wolf Eels and Giant Pacific Octopi?! Day 4: Time to improve your kayaking skills this morning in Hakai Pass, British Columbia’s largest marine park where you can paddle past beaches, forested hills and a network of inlets and coves. Day 5: Chance to dive the wreck of the Transpac, which sank propeller first and now perches vertically on a shelf over a trench 500 meters deep. What makes this wreck so intriguing is the fact that she rests vertically where she landed. You’ll get to visit the eerily vacant ghost town of Butedale, a former salmon cannery only accessible by boat and get your land legs back with a walk to Butedele Lake. Day 6: This morning you’ll cross into the US as you step back onto dry land with a visit to the tiny Alaskan harbour town of Meyer’s Chuck, which according to the last US census had a population of 21! Opportunity to walk a short forest trail. Day 7: The boat will wend it’s way through Wrangell Narrows. Most larger cruising vessels cannot fit through the narrow channels but Nautilus Explorer can! Keep the binoculars handy for views of Bald Eagles soaring above the pine-tree clad rolling peaks. The afternoon will see you head out past Petersburg to the glaciers and icebergs. Why not take the chance to kayak between the ice fragments and get close to the basking seals?! Days 7-10: Your activities will depend on the conditions locally but you could expect to be sailing Icy Strait, Pelican Cove and Baranoff Island, making dives on the soft coral walls. Once in Sitka Sound, a visit to Saint Lazaria Island, a national wildlife refuge, affords views of Tufted Puffins and Thick-billed Murres (otherwise known as Brünnich’s Guillemots). You’re still in Humpback Whale territory here so keep make sure you have both your binoculars and cameras at the ready! Day 11: Morning disembarkation in the old Russian town of Sitka.

 

 

SITKA TO KETCHIKAN

 

Day 1: Board Nautilus Explorer in Thomsen Harbour, Sitka, Alaska. Day 2: Your first dive of the trip will be on the walls of Saint Lazaria Island which are covered in invertebrate life, soft corals and anemones. Night anchorage at Chichikoff island. Day 3: This morning you’ll be looking for Grizzly Bears on top of the water and diving the pinnacles of Chichikoff Island, home to gorgonian corals and basket stars. Days 4-5: Wall diving in Icy Strait – don’t let the name put you off! The walls are rich in colourful corals and nudibranchs. Evening landing at Elfin cove where the only skyscrapers are the Fairweather Mountains. It might feel like you just stepped into Middle Earth! Day 6: Nautilus Explorer continues to sail through whale territory. Keep a watch for Humpback Whales and Orcas. Day 7: Today the vessel reaches Le Conte Bay with its breathtaking ice- and snowscapes. Marvel at the glaciers and icebergs as you cruise on through to Wrangell Narrows. Most larger cruising vessels can’t fit through the narrow channels but Nautilus Explorer can! Keep the binoculars handy for views of Bald Eagles soaring above the pine-tree clad rolling peaks. Day 8: On your last day in US territory you’ll visit the tiny and remote Meyer’s Chuck, accessible only by plane or boat – this really is the last frontier! Day 9: Today you’ll enter Canada at Masset in the Queen Charlotte Islands, a picturesque fishing village located close to some pleasant walking. Day 10: Another day on land with a tour of Haida village, famed for its totem poles belonging to the First Nations peoples, also known as Kung Indian Reserve. Afternoon of idly wandering a remote and pristine beach. Day 11: Round the trip off in style with a dive on the pinnacles of Foggy Bay with the Wolf Eels, octopi and prolific Rockfish before departing for Ketchikan.

 

 

KETCHIKAN TO JUNEAU

 

Day 1: Board Nautilus Explorer at the Salmon Landing before dinner and an evening departure. Day 2: Start the trip in style with a dive on the pinnacles of Foggy Bay with the Wolf Eels, octopi and prolific Rockfish before the evening run up to Masset. Day 3: Here you can make a shore landing to visit the town of Masset, a picturesque fishing village located close to some pleasant walking. Transit to Langara Island, the northernmost island in the Queen Charlotte chain. Langara is the first land mass on the migratory path of the Pacific Chinook, Coho, and Chum Salmon as they journey from the Arctic feeding grounds to their spawning grounds in the Pacific Northwest. Day 4: Another day on land with a tour of Haida village, famed for its totem poles belonging to the First Nations peoples, also known as Kung Indian Reserve. Afternoon of idly wandering a remote and pristine beach. Day 5: Clear US customs in Ketchikan before visiting the tiny and remote Meyer’s Chuck, accessible only by plane or boat – this really is the last frontier! Day 6: Sailing through Wrangell Narrows on Nautilus Explorer is a real treat. Most commercial cruising vessels can’t squeeze through the channels. Sightings of Bald Eagles are common. Heading up to Le Conte Bay (the local name for which is Hutli, or ‘Thunderbird!’), the vessel gets as close as it can to the majestic icebergs, waterfalls and sweeping glaciers. Get even closer to the action in your kayak as you get the chance to navigate the mini-bergs for yourself! Day 7: This morning you’ll find yourself visiting The State of California! No, the captain is not guilty of poor navigation, he’s taking you to dive the wreck of the 100m long steamship, The State of California which was reversed into an uncharted rock after docking at a cannery. The wreck provides a home to invertebrate life, cloud sponges, Prowfish and Rockfish sheltering from the currents found around the body of the ship. Further diving can be done on the walls of Icy Strait – don’t let the name put you off! The walls are rich in colourful corals and nudibranchs. In Frederick Sound you are in Humpback Whale territory so keep an eye out for these marvellous marine mammals. Steller’s Sealions are frequently encountered by kayakers. Day 8-10: Exploration of the top-side and underwater attractions of Chichikoff Island. Will you be looking for Grizzly Bears or diving the coral clad pinnacles?! Or perhaps you will take a kayak to explore the coves and inlets…Opportunities to dive the wrecks of the Princess Kathleen and the Princess Sophia. Day 11: Disembark Nautilus Explorer at Juneau.

 

Single Occupancy Supplement: 75% of the cruise cost in a twin cabin (but you can avoid paying the supplement if you are willing to share a cabin).

 

FLIGHTS: Prices from about £780. There are daily flight connections to Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Vancouver (the first three via Seattle). An overnight stay in Seattle is usually required on the outbound journey to Sitka or Ketchikan.

 

STOP-OVERS: These are available in Seattle, Juneau or Vancouver depending on your cruise itinerary.