Greetings from Alaska

[AlaskaDiver]

Hello from the Anchorage area! Diving in Alaska is as you may have guessed - cold. The water affords some amazing opportunities here for seeing such cool things as sea lions, nudibranchs, wolf eels, ling cod, sea pens, sea whips, huge sunflower stars and lots of unique soft corals and sponges.

I dove last weekend in Seward and encountered two sea lions within ten feet- underwater and saw so many creatures from the boat (up close) Humpback whales, Dall's Porpoises, Bald Eagles mating as they fell from the sky, Otters, Murres and many other diving birds floating. The flora is just divine when visibility is greater than 15 ft. There are so many varieties of soft corals (octocorals) and sponges. Nudibranchs are beautiful to see (large Lemon Peels).

Don't be fooled though water temps are chilly to say the least (39F last weekend all dives).

I have a tendency to laugh at dive magazines which boast Vancouver as the best cold water diving in North America. Obvioulsy they have never gone diving in Alaska. Also, we do not have the air traffic as Vancouver affords. A trip from Seattle is 3.5 hours to Anchorage. This is not your average weekend warrior jaunt.

Anyone have any questions - please let me know!

 

[scubajoe]

Welcome to the board!
I'd love to dive Alaska.

Joe

 

[anemone]

Greetings from warm sunny (hot) Dubai

Welcome to the board. Would love to dive in cold water someday. Comes from hot country, wonder how is it going to be like? :11:

 

[mobymark]

Ow! Thats cold!

 

[AlaskaDiver]

(Changed my handle to AlaskaDiver)

 

[DandyDon]

Howdy!

Welcome to SB!! :happywave Put us in your computer's favorites and check in often. This is a great place to learn, compare, argue

I'll certainly look forward to your contributions, with your credentials...!

don

 

[btgpuck22]

Hello Anchorage diver. I have a question, maybe you can help me. I am trying to rent an underwater video camera housing, camera inculded. do you know anyone in Anchorage that rents this equipment? I am from Anchorage, and any help would be appreciated...

Thanks!

 

[DivingGal]

Glad you found us! This is a great place to spend your SI, but watch out, it's addictive!

Check out the Scubaboard Club Forums for the one nearest you

 

[bcsean]

I haven't heard of Vancouver being the best cold water diving. It's normally Vancouver Island, up in the norther end of the island.

And we thought we had cold water here. I think it was 46 last time I dove. I'd love to check out the diving up there sometime. Maybe I'll have to make a roadtrip, yes I realize how far it is.

 

[Jerayn]

Anchorage? What about Sitka? Juneau? Doesn't seem to be much going on in Petersburg...