Snorkel Alaska

Had an amazing time!!! Definitely a must-do experience. You’re super warm so there’s nothing to worry about. Swimming with schools of fish, sea stars, urchins, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a sea lion (or a seal), whale, or octopus!! We caught a whale and sea lion which was super cool. An amazing way to experience Alaska. 10/10 recommend. You won’t regret it.

Fred and Kirk were true professionals. While working hard to ensures guest gets the best sighting experiences, they would never leave sight of any guest for too long. Every single guest felt safe and comfortable and even in a minor event of struggle to keep afloat, Fred’s promptness and calmness to the rescue brought comfort to an amazing experience.

You tell people you are snorkeling on your Alaskan cruise and they think you have lost your mind. I was never cold once. Admittedly I am one of the most cold natured people you will meet. Wet suite is thick and while difficult to get on was fine once in the water. Fred and his team are amazing guides. Giving you tons of information and assistance. They made us feel comfortable in the water. Had a great time seeing below the surface. DO NOT be afraid to book outside your cruise line. Read reviews. You will be fine.

I convinced my wife to do this excursion with me, it’s not easy to be like hey let’s snorkel while in Alaska and other people to be on board. Be assured that the provided suits kept us toasty the whole time and the visibility was awesome(compared to northeast, U.S.) We got to see a lot of the different creatures even got to hold a few and the best part for us was that we got visited by a seal. I highly recommend this excursion and don’t be afraid to book outside your cruise.

Breathtaking!! Guides Meg and Liz were the absolute best!! All the Employees were professional, friendly and Super nice!! I would recommend to everyone!! 10 out of 10🥰 Will be returning! P.S.... I cant swim and was still able to do this excursion with the buoy/ floaty!! Snorkel Alaska Rocks!!

T’was a cold and rainy day - as if I weren’t already having second thoughts after my husband telling me that he and everyone he told of my plans, but I was crazy for snorkeling in Alaska. Nevertheless, I persisted and went through with the tour and I am so glad that I did! I had the best time! Yes, when you first get in the water, it is cold, but your 7 mm thick wetsuit quickly brings that water up to body temp and you don’t even notice the cold. I got to see lots of starfish, sea cucumbers, fish, and sea urchins. The highlight was the harbor seal that kept swimming up to our group. Our guides were friendly and informative. They made sure everybody got to see everything and they provided education as well. We also were able to hold starfish, see cucumbers, and sea urchin. I highly recommend this to anyone considering it and hope that you can convince those who have misgivings that this is so worth it!

This was an amazing experience provided to us! Got back to the cruise ship in plenty of time and saw so much life! Starfish, sea cucumbers, fish, jellyfish, sea urchins! The wet suits keep you very warm and we had a wonderful time, better than some snorkeling in the Caribbean!

I 100% not only recommend this place but say you have definitely got to go when you are there! You can book directly through them or the cruise line but through them is better in my opinion. We saw so many awesome things. I'm a very cold natured person but was extremely warm in my wetsuit. The guys even played along with our baby Yoda joke we had going during our honeymoon. This one was of our favorite excursions during our entire trip. Go snorkel Alaska!!! You won't regret it! Thanks for the amazing experience & helping make our honeymoon even better!

Had an amazing time!!! Definitely a must-do experience. You’re super warm so there’s nothing to worry about. Swimming with schools of fish, sea stars, urchins, and if you’re lucky you’ll spot a sea lion (or a seal), whale, or octopus!! We caught a whale and sea lion which was super cool. An amazing way to experience Alaska. 10/10 recommend. You won’t regret it.

Fred and Kirk were true professionals. While working hard to ensures guest gets the best sighting experiences, they would never leave sight of any guest for too long. Every single guest felt safe and comfortable and even in a minor event of struggle to keep afloat, Fred’s promptness and calmness to the rescue brought comfort to an amazing experience.

You tell people you are snorkeling on your Alaskan cruise and they think you have lost your mind. I was never cold once. Admittedly I am one of the most cold natured people you will meet. Wet suite is thick and while difficult to get on was fine once in the water. Fred and his team are amazing guides. Giving you tons of information and assistance. They made us feel comfortable in the water. Had a great time seeing below the surface. DO NOT be afraid to book outside your cruise line. Read reviews. You will be fine.

I convinced my wife to do this excursion with me, it’s not easy to be like hey let’s snorkel while in Alaska and other people to be on board. Be assured that the provided suits kept us toasty the whole time and the visibility was awesome(compared to northeast, U.S.) We got to see a lot of the different creatures even got to hold a few and the best part for us was that we got visited by a seal. I highly recommend this excursion and don’t be afraid to book outside your cruise.

Breathtaking!! Guides Meg and Liz were the absolute best!! All the Employees were professional, friendly and Super nice!! I would recommend to everyone!! 10 out of 10🥰 Will be returning! P.S.... I cant swim and was still able to do this excursion with the buoy/ floaty!! Snorkel Alaska Rocks!!

T’was a cold and rainy day - as if I weren’t already having second thoughts after my husband telling me that he and everyone he told of my plans, but I was crazy for snorkeling in Alaska. Nevertheless, I persisted and went through with the tour and I am so glad that I did! I had the best time! Yes, when you first get in the water, it is cold, but your 7 mm thick wetsuit quickly brings that water up to body temp and you don’t even notice the cold. I got to see lots of starfish, sea cucumbers, fish, and sea urchins. The highlight was the harbor seal that kept swimming up to our group. Our guides were friendly and informative. They made sure everybody got to see everything and they provided education as well. We also were able to hold starfish, see cucumbers, and sea urchin. I highly recommend this to anyone considering it and hope that you can convince those who have misgivings that this is so worth it!

This was an amazing experience provided to us! Got back to the cruise ship in plenty of time and saw so much life! Starfish, sea cucumbers, fish, jellyfish, sea urchins! The wet suits keep you very warm and we had a wonderful time, better than some snorkeling in the Caribbean!

I 100% not only recommend this place but say you have definitely got to go when you are there! You can book directly through them or the cruise line but through them is better in my opinion. We saw so many awesome things. I'm a very cold natured person but was extremely warm in my wetsuit. The guys even played along with our baby Yoda joke we had going during our honeymoon. This one was of our favorite excursions during our entire trip. Go snorkel Alaska!!! You won't regret it! Thanks for the amazing experience & helping make our honeymoon even better!

Fred and Kurt were totally awesome. Such an incredible and unforgettable experience. They assisted us with getting our gear on and were super knowledgeable about all of the ocean life. The thick wetsuits were easier to put on than my surf wetsuit and kept me warm the entire time. We were all surprised at how much wildlife lived in those chilly waters. They also said we got super lucky with the weather and water conditions, but they try their best to time the tours with the tides so everyone can have an awesome experience. This was such a fantastic way to start our Alaskan adventure! The warm water shower and hot chocolate afterwards were the cherry on top. They also gave us an awesome recommendation of a spot to go after we finished our snorkeling. Thanks for an unforgettable experience! If you are on the fence about booking this tour, definitely do it!

Lots of wildlife and very friendly staff. Highly recommended for a tourist activity that teaches you how much is really up in Alaska.

Who comes to Alaska to snorkel? Who is brave enough or crazy enough to do it in waters that are not above 60 degrees? Apparently me and my partner!! We live in sunny and warm south Florida but figured, what's the craziest thing we can do here? Well.... We did this tour when we visited Ketchikan while on a celebrity cruise: Millenium. Fred Drake is the owner of this and is extremely knowledgeable and makes instructions and the whole experience super fun. They picked us up on a school bus and took us to the place. While on the bus they explained who to put on the super thick wet suit. I thought, there's no way my body is getting into it as easy but guess what? I followed instructions and it was fairly easy to get into it AND get out of it. Once the suit is on, you do feel very constricted but you can still breathe and move around. Yes! You may look like a badly wrapped burrito but hey, there are others with you so no worries!! After the suit is on, they took us to the place where we would get in the water. You finish putting your suit together there: mask, gloves, and fins. While in the water, you get to see tons of marine life: sea urchins, very small jellyfish, big fish. We were lucky enough to see a humpback whale right before we all went into the water. We also saw a sea lion (or sea otter, can't remember which one) that followed us for a little bit. We spent about an hour in the water. The suits do keep you fairly warm but be warned: some water does go in (and one or two accidents). They do offer to pour hot water down the suit to warm you up. Do it! It feels so good!! Once we returned to the store, we took off our suits and took a hot shower. Then they brought us back to the ship. Highly highly recommend!!

We are from Texas and had a marvelous time. Never felt cold because of the great equipment. The people are great. We saw starfish, sea urchin, eels, jellyfish, crabs, sea cucumbers and many fish. Such a fun time and exceeded my expectations.

This was a wonderful experience. I was not on a cruise ship and booked directly through the Snorkel Alaska website. The confirmation email and instructions were very clear and answered all my questions without me even having to ask. When the day of my adventure arrived. It was easy breezy to find them (again, very clear instructions). The staff were super nice and friendly. We had to wait a bit for the group coming off the cruise ship, but that was no fault of Snorkel Alaska. We loaded a bus and were off to the office to get suited up. On the trip to the office, one of the staff/guides briefed us on the one form/liability release and went over how to get the suits on and off, use the snorkel mask, etc. It was short, but very clear and easy to remember. I had never before been snorkeling, but all my fears and concerns were laid to rest and I was made to feel comfortable. Upon arriving at the office, we were greeted by the other staff/guides. (There were 3 guides going out with us.) We got another reminder about the hows of the wetsuits and were divided into girls and boys. We were then asked our height and weight and provided with a wetsuit. Getting into the wetsuit was no easy task, but it was much easier than I was expecting based on the reviews. It's tight and I broke a nail pulling it up, but it wasn't the extreme workout I was anticipating. Once in the suit, you add the boots and hood and pack your belongings in a dry bag. The hood was the worst part. It's a pullover and quiet tight and uncomfortable. When it was down (as opposed to up and on), I actually found it a little hard to fully breathe. We then proceeded outside with our dry bags to collect our masks, gloves, and fins. And then we reloaded the bus and headed to the destination. We slowly made our way to the water with our gear and then were helped into our fins after the short hike down. The brief hike was no issue at all. I didn't find it difficult or slippery. (And I'm totally the type who would.) Don't be afraid to rely on the guides and ask them for help! The getting into the water was the worst and hardest part. The fins were hard at first to adjust to and I stumbled a bit. And the water was rough and I got knocked around quiet a bit. I was honestly worried for a few minutes that I wouldn't be able to do it. But the guides were encouraging and once I got away from the shore and rocks, I was totally fine and very at ease. I got the hang of it quickly and enjoyed myself. There's not a whole lot to see to be honest. But it's totally cool to be looking at the Alaska ocean underwater. Lots of sea stars and moon jellies. And cool to see all the barnacles and mussels and shells. Surprisingly clear and visible underwater. The guides led us along the coastline and picked up critters from below for us to handle and learn about. I held various sea stars, an urchin, and a sea cucumber. It was neat to learn about everything and actually hold them too. I never felt cold once. I really thought people were exaggerating or forgetting when they said they weren't cold. But nope, it's the total truth. I wasn't ever cold. There were times where I could feel some water sloshing in my suit, but it was a welcome coolness and not cold or anything, and very brief. Note: I did opt to wear thick hiking socks and I think that helped. It was rainy and kinda rough water when we went. The small kids didn't handle it all that well. And two grown men actually had difficulty too. And all had snorkeled before. So it may be hit or miss as to whether or not you'll tolerate this adventure well. For what it's worth, though, I would've bet more on me not handling it well and I loved it and didn't have issues after we really got into the water and away from the entry point. Once done (and way too soon - I could've easily stayed in for longer), the guides helped us with getting our fins and whatnot off. We poured hot water down our suits. We took pictures. We laughed. We talked. And then the bus came and got us and we headed back to the office. Getting out of the suit was easier, but more awkward. Special hint: Wear a one-piece. Managing to peel off the suit and maintain my bikini in position was far from an easy feet. You have to take your boots off outside. And since the showers are outside, it's advisable to take everything off outside. Well, my bikini (my most modest one) and a large family with kids was not the greatest combination and I definitely felt a bit awkward. But the shower was heavenly. And then it was get dry and dressed time. Note: You have to bring your own towel. And then there was hot chocolate and hot tea. And more laughing and talking. The guides were wonderful and I had a great experience. So yes, you definitely should go snorkel in Alaska. It's to talk worth the cost and will most absolutely be an experience you won't forget.

This is a fantastic adventure to do while in Alaska. You wouldn't think that diving in Alaskan water would be ideal but they provide everything necessary to make the trip comfortable. I went with a large group had people of, let's say a diverse variety of athletic abilities and no one had any issues. Fred, spot on sir. Best off cruise ship activity possible.

What an experience! Who would have thought to go snorkeling in Alaska? If you're contemplating it, DO IT. The guides were awesome. Super informative and the sea life was awesome!

We decided to go on this tour... It was completely different than just sitting in a bus. Let me tell you it was a blast... The water was great you saw lots of cool animals I highly recommend it You might even be able to see a killer shark... Nope or a whale... Nope just fish

Thank heavens for following Chuck M who checked into Snorkel Alaska last week. This was absolutely in the top 10 of coolest things I have ever done. We are on a cruise, 5000+ people from two ships are in Ketchikan and only 16 people were up for this incredible adventure. Jeff the owner meet us at the pier and gave us a ride to the dive shop. Maria was on the bus and did all the demonstrations in the short 10 minute ride. Inside we switched into their gear surprisingly quick- but the instructions were easy and clear. Back on the bus to Mountain Point just a couple of minutes down the road. A short walk down hill and across the rocks to our entry point. We scored!!! A sunny morning and low tide. Fins go on, next hood and mask, and finally the gloves. Go for it !!!! Step into the narrows. Oh my gosh!!!! It was warmer than when we were waiting on the dock. Four guides got in with us as we gathered in the water with a family of seven otters playing nearby on the next rock. Just a short distance from start Maria pulls up the most vivid red baby octopus- he looked like he was on fire he was so bright. She let us hold him before returning him to his sleeping spot. Next Ashley shows us three star fish of incredible intense colors- more red, orange and the most amazing deep purple. We swam for over an hour with no fear of the teeny tiniest white jelly fish to ones the size of a softball. So many fish- some no bigger than you thumb that swam by and looked like they were flying, to ones the size of a man's arm. Kelp beds that could grow three feet in just one day. And if you looked close enough you could play with the little kelp crab hanging on to it. Ashley has a great eye to finding the best creatures. Next she handed us two large sea urchins- fresh sushi anyone? Sea cucumber- I have only seen these guys on my plate in Chinese restaurants in the bay. Again colors I can't begin to describe. The most interesting part in how they all felt when you held them. So light, some guys more rigid than others and some had flesh like leather while others were the slimy you would expect. Stand up when ever you want- there is no endangered fragile coral to hurt. Jeff's entire staff is probably the best crew I have ever had on a tour. Bummer, now the adventure is over. Back up to the bus and to the shop. Wiggle out of the gear and take a hot shower right there on the patio. Dry off, change and enjoy some of their complimentary hot cocoa or tea. Then one more time to the bus and a return to the ship. I highly recommend this adventure if you're ever in town. I know I would eagerly do it again and will buy a fancy water camera just for the trip. $110 a person- quite the bargain.

When I saw that I could snorkel in Alaska on my upcoming cruise I knew there was no way I would do anything else! Unless you live there, then it is definitely a once-in-a-lifetime deal! So, the main question that everyone asks is "isn't it cold?" Yes, but (for me) only for a couple of seconds and only at the openings of the suit (wrists, ankles, and neckline). They outfit you with everything. I was thinking of bringing my own snorkeling gear, but since their snorkels are "color-coded" I'm glad I didn't. They are basically a bright yellow so that they can easily pick us out while snorkeling. You are basically given a "tour" of the bay with your guides diving deeper to bring back urchins, nudibranch, sea cucumber, starfish, and anything else interesting they may find. Before releasing it, they tell you how this creature, reproduces, defends itself, etc. When you get back to the bus at shore they have nice wetsuit "jacuzzi" waiting for you. I will say that moving isn't necessarily easy in the suits and neither is walking over the rocks just to get into the water. The current was pretty strong at times and I had to do some major kicking to get to certain areas or I would find myself being pushed up onto the rocks sometimes. But they do have floatation devices they can give you if you get nervous (as I admit I did). But even through my nerves, I found I had a great time and would do it all over again.

We did this as a shore excursion from a Princess Cruise. It was a really fun time (except of course sliding your sausage body into the casing of a wetsuit!). The water is warmer in a wet suit than swimming in a swim suit in Hawaii so fear not. We were in the water the same time that humpback whales swam by about 200 yards which made the whole experience. This is a totally unique experience!

We recently enjoyed the snorkel tour while in Ketchikan cruising with NCL. I had spoken with the owner Fred who was extremely helpful and was excited for the tour. Snorkeling in Alaska isn't like the tropics, but it's great! We had a group of about 20 people with four guides in the water so you never felt crowded and they allow you to snorkel around at your own pace so you can avoid the main group silting up the area. Guides give good info on local marine life and bring up the critters that it is safe to do so. Water was warmer than expected around 55° and the wetsuits were clean and in great shape. Visibility was about 15ft once you got a little bit from the group which is about what I was expecting. Saw lots of fish, sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs and even two nudibranch!! Very please and I highly recommend!

Awesome great time Great people running the place Everything was perfect Saw many colorful fish,sea cucumbers starfish Was perfectly warm in my 3 mil wet suit This trip is a must do Do it

Absolutely awesome adventure, the instructors are great super patient and nice. Beautiful experience and great music in the shop too

Had an awesome snorkeling trip today! Saw lots of amazing sea creatures and the guides were super helpful and very attentive! We even saw a whale breach just before entering the water! An amazing and unforgettable experience!

Recently visiting this place while on an Alaskan cruise and I can absolutely recommend it to anyone looking to do something different on their visit. They have wetsuits to keep you warm while you're in the waters--so don't even worry about being cold! The staff is professional and friendly and willing to answer any of your questions during your time in the water. Be sure to bring a waterproof camera of sorts because you're going to want to capture the amazing sea life you'll see!

What can I say about Snorkel Alaska? Not enough! This was the excursion my wife and I were most excited about. Please do not hesitate to sign up and experience something you will never forget. Don't miss out on your chance to brag to your friends that you went snorkeling in Alaska! The crew is incredible. From start to finish their combined knowledge and passion for what they do made us feel safe and allowed us to see another aspect of what Beautiful Alaska has to offer that most don't get to experience. Besides the beautiful landscapes the life under the waters are just as beautiful. From the jellyfish, to all the different colored star fish and sea urchin, bizarre sea cumbers and a huge Lingcod; it seemed that at every turn we found something even more stunning and unforgettable. So just do it. Sign up and experience this wonderful side of Alaska for yourself and do it with Snorkel Alaska.

I had a great time snorkeling in Alaska. They did a great job. Worth the money!! Saw sea cucumbers, several types of fish, starfish, and sea urchins. I would recommend. Don't have to be a good swimmer as the wet suit helps you float. Thanks for a fun adventure!

Whodda thunk it? We have snorkeled in Hawaii many times, so while checking out shore excursions after we booked an Alaska cruise, this caught our eye. We went in with a "well, at least we could say we did it " attitude. At the end of the day I can't express how much we enjoyed it. Alex and Aaron were great guides. They brought up urchins, sea cucumbers, and sea stars for us to hold. In spite of what you might think, there was a lot to see. Best of all, the wet suits kept us plenty warm. After the tour they provide a warm outside shower to rinse off, and hot chocolate. Soooo glad we chose this tour. If you even give it half a thought, do it. You'll be glad you did.

I thought this was the best excursion on my family cruise to Alaska last May (2019). Everyone was nervous that it would be cold. It was not cold. The thick wet suites did the job, and the staff did excellent work making sure everyone had comfortable equipment that fit well. One hour in the water was the ideal time. There was a lot to see. It was never boring. But after an hour, it was probably a good time to get out. Saw starfish, echinoderms, a tiny jelly fish, lots more, too. Before we got in we saw a whale and we also had a bald eagle perched on a rock just feet from where we were swimming. I put a few short video clips online if you want to see the kinds of views, but obviously it's more fun in the water. https://youtu.be/mKzYF2Y1p18 https://youtu.be/ctEEpTS9-Yo https://youtu.be/owZJiPr06Vo https://youtu.be/hamedPWjp9o https://youtu.be/LJRmNiSy5tM https://youtu.be/C7aK_69RGNo https://youtu.be/8kCo5khMPoM https://youtu.be/SHwR-k5nAuk

I did it in July, 2018, as a Princess excursion. Water was actually warm enough (not that different from southern California in the spring or fall) that I wouldn't have needed the wetsuit, but it was not an option. Unfortunately, on our visit, an algae bloom had reduced visibility to around 3 feet, so that affects my review. I mostly did it for bragging rights (snorkeling in Alaska). We were issued all gear, hoods, wetsuits, gloves and booties, plus snorkel gear. Weight belts were offered because the wetsuit buoyancy makes free diving otherwise impossible. The wetsuit, was a bit constricting, but that's how it works, by trapping water against your body to make a cocoon of warmth. I saw the first bald eagle or my Alaska trip on a rock in the middle of the dive zone, that was a thrill. Chelsea, Nenna, and Kurt (guides) were knowledgeable, helpful, and entertaining. They knew just where to go to find the sea life that the algae bloom concealed from us. I found the different marine life from my home beaches interesting and pretty. The guides talked about their life cycles. If you're an avid snorkeler, if you're looking for something different, or if (like me) you're looking for bragging rights, this is a must-do. If it doesn't sound like your thing, you're probably right. I'm glad I went, but if I go back to Ketchikan, I probably won't do it again.

How many people can say they snorkeled in Alaska... Well i can and it was fun! First let me say Fred and his team are simply amazing, they are friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable to say the least. You may be thinking brr.. well that's not the case - the suits are so good - you are almost too warm. They outfit you with all you need to have a nice time in the water. They bring sea-life up for you to see and have a team with you to ensure your safety, its a really great way to spend some time in the nature that only Alaska can provide. We also had a special circumstance that they took into consideration and made sure we were able to honor our other commitments and be able to snorkel too since it was on the top of our list. The team is really what makes this a great day. Its a must do in Ketchikan!!!

Awesome experience! I'll admit that my initial reason for wanting to do this was for the bragging rights. How often do you hear about people who've snorkeled in Alaska? It's an experience getting those wetsuits on. The changing area is just a big open space (men and women seperate) and there was a lot of laughing while we all helped each other struggle into the suits. We walked back to the bus after getting our stuff together and loaded up. Not an easy feat to climb into a bus in a flattering skintight wetsuit, but we managed. It is cold for a minute once you get into the water, but you really do warm up quickly. For the most part, you're able to explore on your own. They have different guides diving down and pulling up creatures to talk about, but if you can't pull your head out of the water long enough to listen, that's okay too. They warn you to look out for red lions mane jellyfish, they can't sting through your suit, but can get to the exposed areas around your mouth. I came across one the size of my pinky finger nail and slapped it away. It was a darning encouter. It's amazingly colorful down there. I half expected everything to be drab and brown, but it was so pretty. Greens, reds, oranges, and so much to see. Watch out for the kelp. I got myself tangled up pretty good, and had to spend a few minutes spitting out water and wishing I had a machete. I did start to get chilly after an hour and a half in the water, but I tend to get cold easily. I forgot my underwater camera (no big loss, those disposible ones take horrible pictures anyways) and I had snorkel issues (which I should have mentioned to someone but just decided to deal with instead). None of that even remotely dampened the experience though. They bring along a big tub of hot water, and let you dump it down your wetsuit before you get back to the bus. Then there's the struggle to get the wetsuits off. You thought they were hard to get on? There was a lot more laughing while we all pulled and tugged at arms and legs. Hot cocoa to warm up after. It was awesome. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

What a great shore excursion! My more experienced teens got to do some free diving and the staff were patient and kind with my nervous 9 year old. Great equipment, knowledge staff, beautiful sea life. We all felt secure and safe to explore this beautiful environment!

I had a lot of fun at snorkel Alaska today! The guides were very friendly and they provide all the equipment and wet suits. The wet suit also includes booties gloves and a full hood that covers everything but your face. You also get fins and of course a mask and snorkel. Even though the water temp was 55-60 you are definitely toasty in the wet suit! I was able to see a lot of fish and starfish but I was also able to see crabs, sea cucumbers, jellyfish (primarily the white ones that don't sting), and kelp. Afterwards they provide a hot chocolate and hot showers! I thought it was worth checking out!

A phenomenal trip. The guides Laura and Kyle were very knowledgeable, professional and friendly. The operation was top notch and well run. The dive itself was great. The visibility was around 40' with abundant sealife: Starfish, Sea Urchins, Rock Fish and a few Salmon. Would do this trip again in a heartbeat!

My 19 year-old son dragged me into this, and I went grudgingly. It was one of many shore excursion options when our ship got into Ketchikan. I thought it would be miserable and freezing, but went along in the interest of father-son bonding time. Boy, was I wrong. I LOVED it. By far one of the best excursions I've ever been on. Yeah, the water was cold, but they provided excellent equipment that kept us comfortable. I didn't feel cold at all. They were very good at explaining things, and the little shop is nicely set up to help you suit up. Different areas for men and women. Water is somewhat murky, but not bad, and the guides were great at picking up different sea life (mollusks, echinoderms, and crustaceans) to let us see it and doing some teaching. Extra-cool were the literally millions of harmless white jellyfish that seemed to be everywhere. And special kudos to Chelsey. I'm a semi-pudgy dude in his 50's, who can't see a damn thing without my glasses. She was incredibly helpful at getting me down the trail and into the water without falling. I'm really glad my kid got me to do this, and would highly recommend it.

Kathleen M. summed up the snorkeling experience perfectly. They think of everything that you could possibly need. Everything was perfectly timed and organized. Don't be scared that it will be too cold - it's surprisingly warm! I've snorkeled in warm Caribbean water but this was such a cool and unique experience!

Hands down, the best excursion I did in Alaska. We were stumped on which excursion we wanted to do in Ketchikan so I decided to go for one (out of only 2 or so) recommended by the Discovery channel. After forcing my self into the wet suit (which wasn't easy!), we took a brief car ride to a local beach and spent a good hour in the water. The 4 guides were awesome- they brought up different species for us to check out and were very knowledgeable about the local wildlife. We saw tons of fish, crabs, starfish, jellyfish, etc. I would definitely recommend trying this out- you don't even realize the water is only 50 degrees once you're in your suit.

This was an amazing trip!!! Who snorkels in Alaska? ME! Stayed warm in the wet suit & had a great time. If you're super modest - wear a tight bathing suit under the wet suite, as the changing room is just that - a big room. No, it's not like snorkeling on a reef in the Caribbean, but it is Alaska. Lots of neat sea life that I've not seen before. All kinds of crazy starfish!!!! Our guides were true educators. They went in search of wildlife we could hold and touch and examine. I am a very tactile person, so touching these things was important to me and improved the trip tremendously! I would HIGHLY recommend this group! I would take this very trip again if I'm in the area.

Even though it was cold, it was worth it to say we snorkeled in Alaska. The hot chocolate and shower after was amazing!

Booked through our cruise- very organized, excellent instructions, friendly guides. Highly recommend if you are looking for an out of the box experience in Alaska!!!

I had a great time with Snorkel Alaska while on a cruise recently. It was around 50 degrees and raining in Ketchikan, which seems like it would be unpleasant to get in the water, but you're outfitted with a full wetsuit, gloves, hoods, and boots. The water is a bit of a shock at first, but as long as your suit fits and you stay down in the water, after a few minutes you don't even realize the 50-ish degree water temperature. (Once I got into my wetsuit, I was warmer than I had been all morning, actually.) Also, the wetsuits are so buoyant, they're basically like life vests, so you float without any effort. Guides were Bekah, David, and Deliska. They were great in shepherding the group around - some, like me, had experience with snorkeling/diving, others hadn't, so they offered the options of wearing weights to freedive with, or to hold on to a float for extra buoyancy - and showing off the creatures that live at Mountain Point. And we had some time left over at the end, so David stayed out an extra 10-15 minutes with me and one of the other snorkelers. It is a strenuous activity, but this is absolutely a must-do if you love the water and/or adventure. Plus you can tell everyone about it afterwards because how many people can say they've been snorkeling in Alaska?

This was truly an amazing experience! We booked through our cruise ship (Norwegian Cruise Line). The Snorkel Alaska staff were extremely informative and friendly. It felt like being at home. On the excursion, we saw mussels, different types of seastars, kelp, fish, sea cucumbers, and other great sealife. Definitely worth the price! Instructors were the bomb!

The staff are amazing. The are very friendly. The wet suits keep you warm the whole time in the water. It's a lot nicer than you would think.

What an awesome excursion! The wetsuit keeps you surprisingly warm with your body heat! We saw starfish, sea cucumbers, sea urchin, crabs and lots of fish! Booked through the Princess Cruises! Best excursion for sure!

Fabulous adventure! I wouldn't change a thing about it! The staff were great and we saw so much while snorkeling. I was a little worried about the cold water, but I never felt cold (even though the water was 54 F degrees). Only four people from our ship of 1,800 passengers signed up for this outing, which is really a shame because it was awesome!! It might be a little much to expect a child who has never snorkeled before to do this, but I would guess pretty much anyone else could do it. I'm 60 years old and I would go on this outing again if I had the chance. Bring an underwater camera if you go. There is SO MUCH to see!

Snorkeling in Alaska? No, to get in the water we didn't have to chip through ice with an axe and ward off polar bears. The water was about 65 degrees when we were there in August - so that's actually pretty comfortable when you're wearing a wet suit. The only part of your body exposed is your mouth, and although your mouth is a little cool for 5 minutes, you quickly warm up. In fact once you're out of the water you're a little overheated in the wet suits so I passed on the complimentary hot chocolate they serve you in the Snorkel Alaska shack. Initially we mixed this excursion up with another snorkeling one in Sitka that involved dry suits. As a result, neither my husband nor I brought bathing suits! There were about 10 minutes during the drive to Mountain Point where I was worried that I was going to have to put my wetsuit on in front of everyone while wearing only a bra and panties. Thankfully the changing areas for men and women are separate. Taking on and off wet suits is such a trying experience you might end up exposing yourself anyway. The girls' side immediately started chatting and giggling and helping each other change while the guys' side was silent. It was like a slumber party. I don't know how I would have been able to take off my wet suit without some of the gals. I actually had to brace myself against a chair while they pried the arms and legs of the wetsuit off me. There was no time to be modest! So, the snorkeling part. They gave us equipment (upon my request they even gave me a prescription mask with 25% magnification which was perfect - I only wear glasses to drive). My husband and brother-in-law got 14-16 pound weight belts so they could dive deeper but these weren't heavy enough. At Mountain Point we had a group of about 20 of us and three guides. They stopped us from time to time to point out what we should look for at certain places (starfish, sunflowers - my favorite, hermit crabs, harmless mini white jellyfish, big fish, super tiny fish). They also dove deeper to bring back to us specimens from the deep to look at, so if you didn't have a weight belt you really didn't miss out on anything. It was very peaceful and breathing was easy. The sealife wasn't as colorful as my other snorkeling adventure in the tropics of Thailand, but it was still impressive, especially the fields of starfish. The wetsuits keep you super buoyant. This was great for me because I'm a terrible swimmer. I never had to think about trying to keep afloat. (Of course the super buoyancy part isn't as good for those who want to dive deeper.) Our guides, Fred, Michelle, and Legare were really helpful, always there to offer to take pictures of you looking ridiculous in your wetsuits, and very knowledgeable about what you were seeing in the water. This is a super professional operation. Fred was able to catch (and release) a fish from the depths that he had never been able to grab before. It actually stung him. (Now that makes it sound not as professional but really, it was.) I wish the logo for Snorkel Alaska was better and that there was a girlie fit for t-shirts. I totally would have bought a shirt!

This tour was one of the highlights of my trip to Alaska! The company is so friendly and helpful. They do everything they can to make it easy and comfortable, including helping you get your equipment on and off and taking your picture. Everyone assumes it will be cold but it is really comfortable. The back of my neck felt chilly, and I assume something wasn't fitted right because the rest of me was fine. I loved seeing the sea creatures and hearing about them and getting to touch them. Take a look at their face book page to see pics of some of the things that you might see. My dream was a picture of me with a star fish so they collected a bunch of different kinds and took a picture with them up and down my arms and one on my head! I also saw eagles and a humpback whale breeched about 10 yards from us! My guides were Maria, Kyle, and David, and they were awesome! The thick suit, booties, gloves, and hood make you very buoyant in the water and the water is shallow with some rocks (and you're wearing long fins) so when I wanted to stand I had trouble manipulating myself--I chose not to get a weight belt because I didn't plan to free dive but I think if I had one it might have helped my stability. Also, the gloves make it harder to use your camera. I think I would probably have been okay going gloveless on one hand. I did not want to get out when it was over and would love to go again!

Among the amazing things to do and see in Alaska, this stands out as a must-do! My 13 year old daughter and I did this, along with 10 other people. Starting on the short bus ride to the shop, our guide gave us a clear, concise introduction to the experience. At the shop, we did the most difficult thing of the day - we put on 7.5 mm wetsuits! But we had lots of help from our guide, and we all managed. We then took a 5 min bus ride to the site, where we put on our masks and fins and made an easy entry into the water. It wasn't even really cold! My daughter and I wore weight belts and were able to free dive, which made it even better. We saw lots of fish, crabs and starfish. The viz through most of the dive was perfect. One thing to note - among the 10 other people, there were several that were older, a few that were overweight, and even two people who had never snorkeled before. All 12 of us accomplished the snorkeling with comfort and ease! This speaks well of the competent, helpful staff. And one last, wonderful thing - the douse of hot water into our wetsuits after we finished was one of the nicest sensations ever!

C'mon!!! SNORKELING IN ALASKA! How could you not give it 5 stars? My friend and I just got back from our cruise in Alaska and had a FANTASTIC time on this trip. They supply all your equipment (bring a swimsuit) and it's completely worry free. Hood, wetsuit, booties, and gloves keep you nice and warm in the 50 degree water, and you see some pretty neat stuff. Starfish, sunflower stars, jellies, fish, crabs, and gigantic kelp. Some people have even seen seals! (We did not.) My friend is not a good swimmer by any means and she did just fine. The suits are in good condition and very buoyant, which helped her a lot. I used to swim competitively so it wasn't an issue, but if you kinda need an idea of how hard it is - she's a very good dog paddler. :-) That's all you need.

This was my first time snorkeling, and it was not a pleasant adventure. The creatures from the subtidal zone were pretty standard, and nothing that was brought to the surface was really that amazing or wonderful. I went with my class and did not have fun, and the cold that I have as a result of the cold water seeping through that gross smelling wetsuit was not worth it. My swimsuit just went through the wash for the third time and still smells like the gear that they gave us. My wetsuit from home never smelled that bad.

We had been to Ketchikan before and had not been too impressed with anything there. It is just incredibly touristy. We saw this excursion and my interest was immediately piqued. Snorkeling in Alaska definitely sounded different! We are so happy that we took a chance and tried it. One of the best parts of our entire Alaskan vacation! I absolutely hate wetsuits, but this made the trouble of getting one on worth it. Their gear was great and the guides were wonderful. We saw some really neat creatures with lots of color. I would definitely recommend this and would do it again! Thanks to our guides Rick, Austin, Marcus, and Maria for making it such a great experience!

Excellent guides. Easy snorkeling. Water a bit murky past 8 feet during our trip. The most in-your-face marine life of our entire Inside Passage cruise. Oh and plenty warm. Highly recommend this excursion for anyone.

My wife and I chose Snorkel Alaska as our only shore excursion through Holland America Cruise Lines. We went for our honeymoon and could not have asked for a better experience. Everything was taken care of from wet suits to prescription masks! The guides are laid-back, easy-going, and incredibly helpful. It was my first time snorkeling, and I struggled at first. The staff at Snorkel Alaska helped me get comfortable in the water and made sure I had a pleasant experience. If I could give it 20 stars, I would. We got to interact with jellyfish, sea stars, sea urchins, sea cucumber, and various fish and crab species. It was like we were living a documentary! Definitely the highlight of the honeymoon! Thank you SO MUCH!

Wow, terrific to snorkel in Alaska in wetsuitt that keeps you warm. Employees really helpful and knowledgable. Great choice of shore adventure! Heather, Placerville CA

We snorkeled last week with Billy Crabb (seriously!), Megan and Matt and it was fantastic! People thought we were kidding when we said we were snorkeling in Alaska--even the locals! The most challenging thing about it was getting into the 7mm thick wetsuits. But once we were in we were good to go. The guides were all super knowledgeable, and the owner of the company met us at the dock and welcomed us all (nice touch). Matt dove for some things that were in deeper water than we could see and brought them up for us to hold and view including a more than 2 foot across starfish! Then he would return them to where he got them so the creatures weren't harmed in any way. We saw a few stars, sea cucumber and urchins. I would highly, highly recommend this tour to anyone heading to Ketchikan with a sense of adventure. The price was more than fair and the experience was unlike any other I've ever had. Thanks to the crew at Snorkel Alaska and I hope to see you again someday.

My wife and I went snorkeling with this crew. They were a lot of fun. We really got our money's worth. There was a lot to see under water. We were never cold. The equipment was easy to use and was in excellent condition.

Great tour!! The water feels great, plant and animal life everywhere, and enthusiastic, knowledgable guides. Do it!!