Discover the Wonders Beneath Alaska’s Crystal-Clear Waters
Alaska may conjure images of icy glaciers and rugged, snow-capped mountains, but beneath the surface of its pristine coastal waters lies a world as vibrant and surprising as any tropical reef. In Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World,” adventure seekers can experience this hidden world firsthand with Snorkel Alaska—an operator renowned for its professionalism, safety, and love of the local marine ecosystem. Whether you’re a seasoned snorkeler or a first timer, here are the top five reasons why you should take the plunge with Snorkel Alaska and discover the unique underwater landscape of the Last Frontier. The Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is a must do Alaska Shore Excursion located in Ketchikan, Alaska. Approximately 30 cruise ships per week visit Ketchikan, Alaska bring some 1.5 million visitors in 2025.
1. Unrivaled Access to Alaska’s Underwater Wilderness
When you think of snorkeling, Alaska might not be the first destination that comes to mind but that’s precisely why it’s so remarkable. Ketchikan’s coastal waters, rich with life and largely untouched by mass tourism, offer an underwater environment unlike anywhere else on earth. Snorkel Alaska takes you to a secluded cove at Mountain Point with shallow tide pools, vibrant kelp forests and steep underwater rock walls where you can try freediving. Here you you’ll glide through crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life. The site is only 5 miles from the cruise ship docks and the Snorkel Alaska shop is located just a mile from Mountain Point. You’ll change into your wetsuits at the shop and then head down to the site ready to go.
In Southeast Alaska the cold-water ecosystem supports a dazzling array of species: from curious rockfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, darting salmon fry and herring to flamboyant sea stars sprawled across the rocky bottom. The kelp forests themselves form a living cathedral, their golden fronds swaying above schools of fish and clusters of anemones. With high visibility and a sense of genuine wildness, snorkeling in Alaska is an experience of discovery where each moment brings the possibility of surprise. You never know what’s going to come swimming by from a curious Harbor Seal, Sea Lion of even a pod of Orca’s or a Humpback Whale! What’s even more surprising is that water temperatures can reach a surprising 65 degrees Fahrenheit during the peak summer months. Average water temperature is about 55 degrees with a low of 45 degrees in the spring.
2. Expert Guides and Top-Notch Safety Standards
Venturing into Alaska’s waters requires more than a spirit of adventure—it demands expertise, preparation, and respect for the elements. Snorkel Alaska’s guides are seasoned professionals, deeply familiar with local conditions and passionate about sharing their knowledge. Every excursion begins with a thorough orientation, and guides remain by your side throughout the journey, pointing out notable marine creatures and ensuring your safety.
Snorkel Alaska provides the highest quality equipment tailored for Alaskan waters, including thick 7mm wetsuits, gloves, hoods, and boots designed to keep you comfortable in the cool temperatures. Their attention to detail and commitment to your well-being mean you can focus on the experience itself. Whether you’re anxious about cold water or new to snorkeling, their team’s patient, encouraging approach ensures you feel confident and secure so you can fully immerse in the adventure.
When you snorkel with Snorkel Alaska, rest assured you are snorkeling with Alaska’s best and most experienced outfit. Company founder Fred Drake pioneered Alaska cruise snorkeling tours when he arrived in Ketchikan on board the Norwegian Cruise Line Ship M/S Windward. NCL put together the very first Alaskan snorkeling tour headed up by Fred and a team of PADI SCUBA Instructors. The ship carried all the equipment including full 7mm wetsuits and everything else guests needed to stay safe and comfortable in the waters of Southeast Alaska. Picture the scene… In early May of 1994, the M/S Windward docked in Ketchikan and 20 wetsuit clad guests walked off the ship to experience Alaska’s first fully guided snorkeling excursion! The tour was a huge success and really put Norwegian Cruise Line’s name in lights touting the only cruise line that offered snorkeling in Alaska. Fast forward to 2001 when Fred took all he had learned from 7 years at sea with NCL and put together his own company that offered snorkeling through all the other cruise line’s Shore Excursion Programs. Fred has a long-storied career in snorkeling and SCUBA diving education. He enrolled at Humboldt State University in 1983 where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Recreation Administration. Fred was already a certified Open Water Diver having obtain that rating when he was 15 in Bermuda. Humboldt State offered Advanced, Rescue and Divemaster certifications which Fred earned prior to graduating in 1988. He then headed down to San Diego, CA to become a certified PADI Instructor through Ocean Enterprises in La Jolla. Fred then went back to Humboldt where he was employed as the Universities Support Instructor. Ever eager to continue his education Fred is now a PADI Master SCUBA Diver Trainer able to teach 10 different Specialty Rating through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.
Fred hand picks all his staff and then trains them in the ways of Snorkel Alaska and the former Dive In Program that Norwegian Cruise Line pioneered. Snorkel Alaska employs a team of PADI Certified Snorkeling Tour Guides, Rescue Divers, Divemasters and Open Water SCUBA Instructors. Every new tour guide is put through a rigorous training program focused on Safety and the providing the highest level of customer service. All staff are licensed by PADI and insured by the Divers Alert Network so you can snorkel knowing that you are in the best hands. And we are not the only ones saying it! The Snorkel Alaska team has close to 1000 5 Star Reviews on Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel website.
3. Unique Marine Life and Ecosystem
Southeast Alaska’s underwater world is a treasure trove of biodiversity. Snorkel Alaska’s tours introduce you to species and habitats rarely seen elsewhere. Peer through the kelp and you might spot a majestic lion’s mane jellyfish drifting by or watch a cluster of sea urchins settle on the rocky floor. Playful harbor seals sometimes make an appearance, darting through the water with acrobatic ease.
The ecosystems here are both delicate and resilient. Vibrant coral-like bryozoans cling to rocks, sea anemone bloom like flowers while crabs scuttle in and out of crevices. During the salmon run, you can witness hundreds of fish surging past to their spawning grounds. A spectacle that draws eagles, seals, sea lions and even the occasional bear to the shoreline. Each tour is a lesson in the interconnectedness of nature, revealing how life flourishes in even the coldest, most remote corners of the world.
The Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is fun for the whole family. It’s a kid friendly Alaska Excursion provided the little ones weigh a minimum of 80 pounds. Our largest suit can fit upwards of 260 pounds, and our suggested age limit is 65 years old. All participants should be reasonably physically fit and not have any heart conditions, respiratory disorders or history of seizures or fainting.
If you pass those requirements then get ready for a unique cruise excursion here in Ketchikan, Alaska. Our staff will take you on a one hour guided marine life tour where we highlight some core creatures. We provide and informative and entertaining narrative while the in water. On every tour our guests will and see and get to handle a variety of Sea Stars or Star Fish. You will also get to hold harmless Sea Urchins in purple, red and green as well as the Giant or California Sea Cucumber. Your guides are always on the lookout for various types of crabs, fish, Octopus and Wolf Eels. As you glide through the waters be on the lookout for the many types of non-stinging jellyfish. But watch out for the Lion’s Mane Jellyfish which can sting wherever skin is exposed. Southeast Alaska’s intertidal zone is home to some of the highest concentrations of marine life found anywhere in the world. Come explore it with us.
4. An Authentic Alaskan Adventure
Snorkeling in Ketchikan is more than just a recreational activity—it’s a way to experience Alaska’s wild spirit. With Snorkel Alaska, you’ll don your gear amid towering spruce forests and mist-shrouded mountains, feeling the pulse of nature all around. The adventure begins when we pick you up at Ketchikan’s iconic Liquid Sunshine Gauge. All tours meet at the Rain Gauge, and this is also where you will be dropped after your 3-hour all-inclusive Alaskan snorkeling adventure. At the shop the adventure continues when you slip into a full 7mm wetsuit and gear up for your plunge into the Alaskan waters. Be sure to have your cameras / phones on hand to capture photos of you and your crew all dressed up. Out at the beach your guides will conduct a thorough safety briefing while offering insights into local geology, history, and wildlife. And then it’s time to slip into the water and enter a world few visitors ever see.
This isn’t a manicured, theme-park experience, it’s the real Alaskan experience. The sense of remoteness, the bracing chill of the ocean, and the thrill of discovery combine to create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’re traveling solo, with friends, or as a family, snorkeling here connects you with the rhythms of the land and sea, offering a rare glimpse into the state’s true character. And it’s not just the tourists enjoying the waters of Southeast Alaska. Many locals enjoy harvesting local seafoods with both snorkel and SCUBA gear. Rock scallops, Dungeness Crab and Abalone abound for the underwater hunter. Our staff spend every day off out fishing for salmon, halibut and rock fish or jumping in the water with spearguns and abalone irons.
Booking the Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is super easy. Just head to our website at www.snorkelalaska.com and click the “book now” tab. The tour was previously sold only through the cruise line Shore Excursions department. But after COVID hit Fred rethought the partnership with the cruise lines. The cruise lines we often taking more money than what they were paying to Snorkel Alaska. This practice is a bit unscrupulous, so a change was made to eliminate the cruise lines and their exorbitant commissions. Snorkel Alaska guests are now treated to a more personalized experienced with fewer guests in the water at the same time. A win win for all.
5. Sustainable Tourism and Environmental Stewardship
Snorkel Alaska is committed to protecting the delicate ecosystems they showcase. Their operations emphasize low-impact tourism, educating guests about conservation and best practices for interacting with marine habitats. Guides discuss the importance of kelp forests, the impact of climate change, and what each visitor can do to help preserve these wild places for future generations.
As part of their dedication to sustainability, Snorkel Alaska supports local conservation efforts and partners with researchers to monitor and protect the health of the coastal environment. By choosing to snorkel with them, you’re not only embarking on an unforgettable adventure you are supporting a business that values stewardship and works to ensure Alaska’s natural wonders endure.
Conclusion: Dive Into the Unexpected
Ketchikan’s reputation as a gateway to Alaska’s natural grandeur is well-deserved, but the magic of its underwater world remains a secret to many. With Snorkel Alaska, you’ll have the chance to explore that magic for yourself. From the thrill of spotting rare marine life to the joy of discovering an ecosystem untouched by crowds, each moment is packed with wonder. Guided by experts, enveloped by nature, and equipped for comfort and safety, you’ll find that snorkeling here is not just an activity—it’s a transformative experience.
If you’re seeking adventure, authenticity, and a deeper connection to Alaska’s wild beauty, Snorkel Alaska offers all this and more. So, pack your sense of curiosity, and get ready to dive into a world few have ever seen right at the edge of the Last Frontier. And just think of the bragging rights you’ll have for the rest of your life. We hope to see you in the water!