Nautilus Swell – Divemaster report – July diving in Alaska!
July 9
Guests embark in Ketchican
July 10
Meyers Chuck, Clarence Straight
Dive one: Misery Island
Viz 65ft+
Temp: 10C
Seas: Calm
Weather: Sun
Dive Two: Misery Island
Viz 65ft+
Temp: 10C
Seas: Calm
Weather: Sun
Dive Three: Lee’s Wall
Viz 60ft
Temp 10C
Seas: Calm, slight chop
Weather: Sun partly cloud
Overview: Guests had a great first day, All look really comfortable in the water and enjoy looking and finding things.. I call it “head in the rocks” DM is very excited for a trip with guests that enjoy the diversity that Alaska offers. The walk-in at Meyers Chuck was short as the trail was covered in water due to rain.
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July 11
Ice Day
AM in Le Conte Glacier. The ice was packed, took a while to get to the head. The guests were really fun. Took full advantage of the the ice bergs, riding and playing and basking in the sun. A great morning, The PM was a walk in Petersburg, Weather was great and guests enjoyed the visitors center and gift shops.
July 12
Dive One: State of California
Temp 9C
Viz 80ft
Seas: Calm
Weather: Sun
Dive Two: State of California
Temp 9C
Viz 80ft
Seas: Calm
Weather Sun
Dive Three: Lumpsuck
Temp 9C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: slight/mild chop
Weather: Sun, partly cloudy. Slight wind
Overview: What a great day. Most of the group are wreck divers and loved the wreck, it was the best viz I have ever seen and one could really enjoy the structure as well as the life on it. Lumpsuck is a macro site and guests enjoyed it. This DM had an epic day diving. Tones of Lumpsuckers and clingfish juveniles. (seems once you know how to see them, they are everywhere.) All guests are very happy with the day and enjoying the amenities of the boat.
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July 13
Wooden Island
Dive One: Vancouver Rock
Temp 10C
Viz: 65ft
Seas: slight Chop
Weather: Cloud
Dive Two: Vancouver Rock
Temp 10C
Viz: 65ft
Seas: slight Chop
Weather: Cloud
Dive Three: Wooden Island
Temp 10C
Viz 70ft
Seas: slight Swell
Weather: part cloud
Overview: What a great Day. Visibility was amazing, Vancouver Rock had a record amount of Wolf Eels. At least a dozen were seen and some free swimming, They are a bit deeper than last season. But same location. Wooden Island was perfect. Slight to no current, clear as day. So much fish life and the reef is so healthy and amazing. Drove to Patterson Bay to look for smudges. There were no smudges to be seen and we questioned if it was the time of year or time of day. Instead of stay overnight and chance no smudges in the morning we continued to Baranoff. But Patterson looked promising, the way it did right before the smudges appeared last year so next week may be it.
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July 14
Baranoff Warm Springs
Dive one: The Kelp Patch
Temp 10C
Viz: 60ft
Seas: calm
Weather; sun with part cloud
Dive Two: The Kelp Patch
Temp 10c
Viz: 60ft
Seas: Calm
Weather; sun and part cloud. Slight wind
Dive Three: Baranoff Rock
Temp 10C
Viz: 60ft
Seas: calm
Weather: sun slight wind
Overview: Great day again, the itinerary on this trip is amazing. All guests are loving the diving. Kelp patch was done twice. Topo right and topo left. Doing so enhances the benefits as ending on the plumose is as great as starting on them. Baranoff Rock has been briefed differently lately making the dive much more enjoyable for guest. The life is various as the options have expanded. It was a great dive today with octopus and crab but not a reliable spot. We parked at the dock and all the guests enjoyed a tour of the area and the ability to come and go as they pleased.
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July 15
Basket Bay, Chatham Straight
Dive One: Basket Bay Point
Temp 10C
Viz: 50ft
Seas: Calm
Weather: Sun part Cloud
Dive Two: Basket Bay Point
Temp 10C
Viz: 50ft
Seas: Calm
Weather : Sun part Cloud. Slight wind
Salmon River Swim
Temp 7C
Viz: Clear
Seas: strong current in the river
Weather: Sun part cloud
Overview: Guest enjoyed the day. Basket Bay point is getting quite reliable for giant Pacific octopus. But not recommended for two dives so we are going to start to explore for other options. The Salmon river swim was great all guests enjoyed to watch the King Salmon. The weather cooperated and the marble Grotto looked beautiful. All guests enjoyed the break that the river swim gave in the dive schedule.
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July 16
Inian Island, Icy Straight.
Dive One. Sea Lion Wall
Temp 9 C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Cloud and fog
Dive Two: Wall of life
Temp 9 C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Cloud and fog
Dive Three: Susans Hooters
Temp 9 C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: Slight Chop
Weather: Cloud and fog
Overview: Guests enjoyed their diving and went to Elfin Cove in the evening. Randi had a birthday special day. She claimed to have never dived the wall of life and got chocolate cake and a glacier made shot glass.
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July 17
Dive One: Inian Wall
Temp 9C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: Chop
Weather: wind and cloud
Dive Two: Wall of life
Temp:9C
Viz: 40ft
Seas: Chop
Weather: Wind and Cloud
Dive Three: Gaff Rock
Temp :9C
Viz: 30ft
Seas: medium Chop
Weather: Wind and Cloud
Last day at Inian Islands. The guests had a great dive at Inian wall with tons of sea lions that interacted with everyone. They were very happy to have experienced diving with stellar sea lions. They enjoyed the colour and life on the walls and Gaff Rock gave them canyon dives which was great for variety, however, due to the site being quite new they were not sure of where they were in reference to the big rock. Guest had a great day and evening watching whales at Pt Adolphus.
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July 18
Dive One: Princess Sophia Wreck
Temp 5C
Viz: 100ft
Seas: Calm
Weather; High Cloud
Dive Two. Sophia Wreck
Temp 5C
Viz: 100ft
Seas: Calm
Weather: Sun
Overview: Great spot to end the trip. Randi a repeat customer loved this wreck and talked about it all week. The viz was amazing better than I have ever seen, it was so nice to look at the whole wreck and get reference for where everything is. You could see the whole wreck, reef and beyond. We found seven prowfish,(two couples and a trio) they were great and it was low tide so everyone had a great bottom time. Amazing end of a trip.
Overview: This itenerary was great. All locations were positive.
