Freediving
3 hours
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Snorkel Alaska
Snorkel Alaska
4.9
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About
Snorkel Alaska operates the Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure in Ketchikan, Alaska. The tour is an all inclusive Shore Excursion available to anyone visiting Ketchikan, Alaska. We provide everything you need to snorkel safely and comfortably in our waters. Included in the tour is state of the art equipment, roundtrip transportation and PADI Professional Divemasters and SCUBA Instructors in the water with you to provide an entertaining and informative guided marine life tour. Opened in 2001 by a former Norwegian Cruise Line Dive In Instructor, rest assured you will be provided the highest level of customer service. Why sit on a bus when you can jump in the water in Alaska!
Ketchikan, Alaska
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.9
678 reviews
Excellent
608
Very good
55
Average
10
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Gina S
4 contributions
Jun 2021
Yes, there is a lot to see in the Alaskan ocean. Yes, the wet suits keep you comfortable enough. We've snorkeled before and this was like none other. So many sea stars, and crab, and schools of fish! And so much more. We even saw humpback whales feeding close by. Our guide was phenomenal, and the little extras (like a hot shower back at the shop to rinse off) that this company offers as part of the tour make it all the better.
Written June 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for coming snorkeling with us!
Written June 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dave M
University Place, WA26 contributions
Aug 2019
August of 2019, we had our boy scout troop from Washington state join for a tour. (I think our 4th of 5th time) What an excellent time. Even our most shy scouts came back with big smiles and great stories.
Saw lots of sea life,fantastic people to work with.
The sea snorkel was our first of many adventures we had in Southeast Alaska, for many this was there #1 activity.
Hope to come back in a few years with a new group of scouts.
Saw lots of sea life,fantastic people to work with.
The sea snorkel was our first of many adventures we had in Southeast Alaska, for many this was there #1 activity.
Hope to come back in a few years with a new group of scouts.
Written June 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NM2
Loveland, CO5 contributions
Jun 2021
Snorkeling was so much fun! Our guide Kurt was great and was easy to follow around. My kids loved seeing the sea creatures up close and holding them. They had some floats which was helpful for my younger son. Kurt and the other guides also gave us good tips as far as getting the wet suit on.
Written June 20, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hooray for Kurt! Thanks for coming out with us!
Written June 28, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ms_tinkerbell1
Glen Burnie, MD312 contributions
Sep 2011 • Solo
I went snorkeliing in Ketchikan in September. what a disappointment. Not only was it rainy(which really did not matter since I was going in the water anyway); but the path to get into the water was extremely rocky and slippery. There was actually nowhere to comfortably attempt to put on your fins. The divemaster seemed to have done this so many times, that it was quite boring. Maybe because I am a scuba diver, I found that a sea star, a sea cucumber, and a starfish were just not enough to keep my interest for over an hour. The visibility was about one foot and I kept getting tangled in the kelp forest below me. a All in all, it was something I could definitely lived without. At one point, the current changed and a few of the folks in the group had a hard time swimming back to the area where we were. Not a real good experience.
Written September 23, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
As the owner of Snorkel Alaska I was dismayed to read ms_tinkerbell's review of my tour. She is correct that we had some challenging conditions in September due to excessive rain and run off. That's snorkeling in Alaska for you! Rather than disappoint everyone and cancel the tour we choose to run unless the conditions are unsafe. Just read our many favorable reviews and you'll see that snorkeling in Ketchikan is not a "waste of your time". In fact we are the most awarded tour in Ketchikan. We have been voted Shore Excursion of the Year 7 out of 11 seasons by Princess Cruises. One of my staff has also received Tour Guide of the Year 7 out of 11 seasons. Most recently Annie B. in 2011. Our staff love this job and snorkeling in Alaska is never boring! Snorkeling in Ketchikan is often times the highlight of one's entire cruise experience.
Written October 3, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
terryw66
Port Charlotte, FL30 contributions
May 2018
They picked us up from the cruise ship, we had a short drive through town, and stopped at the dive shop. We got fitted for wetsuits and masks and had a short orientation. We loaded back up and had a short walk down a flight of stairs to the shore entry. The view was breath-taking, the rocky area very beautiful. The water temp was only 47F in May, but the heavy wetsuits kept us plenty warm for an hour in the water. We snorkeled in calm water. The guides showed us some of the local sealife including purple stars, pink urchins, sea cucumbers, crabs and many types of shell fish. Most of the time we were only in about 4ft of water, the deep part was not much more than 10ft. We also saw an eagle and sea lion on the site. When we finished there were hot showers, and hot chocolate which was nice, but again, surprisingly we weren't really cold. Really enjoyed this adventure, I would do it again.
Written November 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a review about your experience!
Written May 31, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
trouble1964
Mississippi115 contributions
Sep 2013 • Solo
I was so anxious for this excursion, that I think it was the only thing I told people that I was doing on the cruise! I was not disappointed!!
You are transported by bus to their headquarters, where the guide will explain to you the easiest way to get into the wetsuit. Once at the building, men and women are sent to separate changing rooms (I can't speak for the men, but the women's room is not divided into single rooms). Some curtains would have been nice, but that is an individual preference and may not be important to all. The wet suit is supposed to be snug, and even though I am a larger person, it was not a problem for the company to accommodate my size. Booties, hoods and gloves round out the suit equipment. Masks and snorkels are provided, but I did see some people who brought their own. Personal items and clothing are collected into waterproof bags and locked into the back of a box truck that is driven separately to the snorkeling location.
A short bus ride to the snorkeling site includes further safety information and discussion of weight belts, if you want to get beneath the water completely. Because the suit is so thick, you can't go under. Trust me, I tried! A little downhill walk on a trail led us to the water's edge where the staff explains signals used, and just like that, it's time to get in! The water was cold and I'm not going to tell you that I didn't get cold, but I didn't get cold enough to make me want to get out! NO one in our group got out until we had to. It's not like you would believe when you think of snorkeling in Alaska. More of a cool feeling rather than "cold".
The tour representatives would dive down to bring up marine life for us to see, and touch if we wished. We saw all kinds of fish swimming around, jellyfish, different kinds of starfish---from tiny ones to gigantic ones--sea cucumbers, sea urchins, crabs, some little crabs in shells---probably everything that you would expect to see along the shoreline. I WISH that I had an underwater camera, or that the company would put together a DVD to sell of pictures of things that are usually found on this outing.
Afterwards, warm drinks and showers were available before returning to the port. Time went by way too fast because it was so much fun.
You are transported by bus to their headquarters, where the guide will explain to you the easiest way to get into the wetsuit. Once at the building, men and women are sent to separate changing rooms (I can't speak for the men, but the women's room is not divided into single rooms). Some curtains would have been nice, but that is an individual preference and may not be important to all. The wet suit is supposed to be snug, and even though I am a larger person, it was not a problem for the company to accommodate my size. Booties, hoods and gloves round out the suit equipment. Masks and snorkels are provided, but I did see some people who brought their own. Personal items and clothing are collected into waterproof bags and locked into the back of a box truck that is driven separately to the snorkeling location.
A short bus ride to the snorkeling site includes further safety information and discussion of weight belts, if you want to get beneath the water completely. Because the suit is so thick, you can't go under. Trust me, I tried! A little downhill walk on a trail led us to the water's edge where the staff explains signals used, and just like that, it's time to get in! The water was cold and I'm not going to tell you that I didn't get cold, but I didn't get cold enough to make me want to get out! NO one in our group got out until we had to. It's not like you would believe when you think of snorkeling in Alaska. More of a cool feeling rather than "cold".
The tour representatives would dive down to bring up marine life for us to see, and touch if we wished. We saw all kinds of fish swimming around, jellyfish, different kinds of starfish---from tiny ones to gigantic ones--sea cucumbers, sea urchins, crabs, some little crabs in shells---probably everything that you would expect to see along the shoreline. I WISH that I had an underwater camera, or that the company would put together a DVD to sell of pictures of things that are usually found on this outing.
Afterwards, warm drinks and showers were available before returning to the port. Time went by way too fast because it was so much fun.
Written September 18, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RJ-EM
London, UK55 contributions
May 2011
Normally I only write reviews for the hotels we stay in, but this tour was so good that I felt it deserved a review as well.
I have done a lot of scuba diving and snorkeling over the years, but I have to say in terms of explanation, guidance and safety this has been the best tour I have been on by far.
The water is chilly - it is Alaska after all - but not as cold as you would think. The equipment provided is state of the art and will keep you warm. The tour itself is excellent and the guides will go out of their way to point out interesting sea-life and explain everything to you.
All in all an excellent tour and a fantastic experience. You don't need to be an experienced snorkeler to do this and I have to say it was a lot of fun. I can highly recommend this tour.
I have done a lot of scuba diving and snorkeling over the years, but I have to say in terms of explanation, guidance and safety this has been the best tour I have been on by far.
The water is chilly - it is Alaska after all - but not as cold as you would think. The equipment provided is state of the art and will keep you warm. The tour itself is excellent and the guides will go out of their way to point out interesting sea-life and explain everything to you.
All in all an excellent tour and a fantastic experience. You don't need to be an experienced snorkeler to do this and I have to say it was a lot of fun. I can highly recommend this tour.
Written May 8, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soonersports
Edmond, OK68 contributions
May 2019 • Family
If you have the chance to take this snorkeling tour...,TAKE IT!!! In my opinion, this was hands down the best snorkeling experience ever. I saw more colorful sea life here than I did in any tropical destination. Plus, we were paid a passing visit by a curious sea lion.
The crew was outstanding and there was not a lot of wasted time before getting in the water. Please don’t fret for a minute about the water temperature. You’ll feel a minor chill for just a few seconds until your wetsuit and your own body heat do their job. I was plenty warm throughout our time in the water and frankly forgot I was snorkeling in Alaska.
Just know that putting on a wetsuit is a pain. You can’t help but laugh at each other doing the wetsuit shuffle. They’ll be a little binding till you get in the water. Also, bring a change of socks and a towel. Socks make getting the booties on much easier.
After you’re done, there are hot showers, coffee, & cocoa waiting on you back at their headquarters. Go enjoy! Not many can say they went snorkeling in Alaska.
The crew was outstanding and there was not a lot of wasted time before getting in the water. Please don’t fret for a minute about the water temperature. You’ll feel a minor chill for just a few seconds until your wetsuit and your own body heat do their job. I was plenty warm throughout our time in the water and frankly forgot I was snorkeling in Alaska.
Just know that putting on a wetsuit is a pain. You can’t help but laugh at each other doing the wetsuit shuffle. They’ll be a little binding till you get in the water. Also, bring a change of socks and a towel. Socks make getting the booties on much easier.
After you’re done, there are hot showers, coffee, & cocoa waiting on you back at their headquarters. Go enjoy! Not many can say they went snorkeling in Alaska.
Written June 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you Soonersports for taking the time to share your recent experience with us!
Written June 10, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebecca L
Chicago, IL2 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
What an amazing experience! The staff is absolutely amazing and really take the time to make sure that you have a great excursion. The wetsuits are difficult to get into but if you listen and follow the instructions of the staff and use the wetsuit lube it really isn't that bad. I went with novice snorkelers who this was their 1st time snorkeling and they were absolutely fine. The wetsuits are also very buoyant and just to put into perspective how buoyant they are I wanted to free dive (dive below the water surface) and they put 16 pound weights on it still was difficult to dive down. So if you're nervous about that aspect of the excursion breathe easily because there's really nothing to worry about. They also have floatation devices for the people that are still nervous. Now what I was most nervous for was the water temperature and that I was going to be cold the whole time, but that wasn't the case at all. They deck you out in a 7 mm wetsuit, booties, hood, and gloves. The only part of your body that is exposed is a little bit of your face. The staff brings up starfish and different animals for you to hold and feel. I would definitely recommend bringing a waterproof camera because this is an experience you're definitely going to want to share (and brag about) with your friends. Seriously if you're trying to decide between this excursion and another, pick this one, you will not be disappointed!
Written June 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thomas B
Anchorage, AK225 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
We stayed warm in our wetsuits as we explored the rocky coast south of Ketchikan with the excellent guides. We saw a lot of marine life. It was like being inside a big tide pool. We handles sea stars and sea cucumbers and sea urchins and other marine life. The water was super clear. This is a good trip if you are on a cruise. You should be able to swim well, but it was not particularly exhausting. A good workout, and the guides were superb.
Written December 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We take non swimmers all the time! The wetsuit is like a full body life jacket so no swimming skills necessary. However if you are terrified of water it might not be the best tour for you!
Written January 3, 2024
Hi there! I saw a picture through my cruise site that showed snorkelers a bit close to orcas. How far from shore do the tours go and how deep would the furthest point be? Thank you!
Written February 29, 2020
You stay pretty close to the shore. At the farthest, I would say you are about 30 feet out. We were told by our guides that you have a chance to see orcas, but unfortunately we did not encounter any that afternoon. With that said, it was a delightful excursion and we saw a nice variety of other sea life.
Written March 1, 2020
We will be in Alaska this coming May and my husband and son would love to do this snorkel excursion! I am wondering if the wet suit will fit my son who is 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 255? Thank you!
Written January 8, 2020
Hi there! Sorry for the delayed reply but email is always best. No problem to fit him at all. Thanks for checking!
Fred - Owner
Snorkel Alaska
Written January 20, 2020
hi, is there a snorkel tour other than yours? One that doesn't harass the marine life?
Written December 12, 2019
Hi there and thanks for inquiring about my tour. I assure you we are not harming the marine life in anyway. We only handle a very limited amount of marine life that can safely be handled. We are very protective of our critters and instruct guests to look but don’t touch unless we bring up for them. All creatures are returned to the proper depth and habitat after viewing. We’ve been doing this for over 20 years. If we were killing marine life we wouldn’t have a tour. Understand if your put off, I get it so you don’t have to handle anything if you prefer. Just back from the Maldives where they were chasing and herding Manta Rays with the boat That was some major harassment. Anyway, hope to see you in the water.
Fred
Written December 12, 2019
A few questions:
How likely are we to get clear waters the last week in July to see well?
We have a 10 year old and none of us have ever snorkeled. Is it appropriate for our child?
Can we stay in areas where we can stand or is it mandatory to be in areas where you have to keep yourself afloat?
Written April 23, 2019
Hi there! Thanks for inquiring about my tour! I can't predict the visibility but no matter what you will see lots of cool marine life! The clarity can change daily, even hourly with the tides.
We have taken many kids on our tour and many first time snorkelers. So long as they weigh at least 80 pounds we can fit them in a wetsuit.
The wetsuit is like a full body life jacket so we have even taken non-swimmers before! You can't always stand up and we encourage you to snorkel out over the rock walls and into the kelp beds where you can't stand. But don't worry, you float like a cork and we have additional flotation tubes in the water.
With that said you could stay near the entry area where you can stand the whole time but you'd really be missing out on the best parts of the tour.
Hope that helps. Feel free to email me for more info.
Fred - Owner
Snorkel Alaska
Written April 24, 2019
Have a fear of jellyfish after getting stung badly when I was a child. Not worried about the moon jellies as I know they are harmless. I do know that the suit is protective as well. However, I have seen pictures of Lion's Mane jellyfish....does anyone get stung? And if so...about how often?
Written April 10, 2019
Hi there. Thanks for inquiring about my tour! Yes, we do have Lions Mane Jellyfish and occasionally people get stung. Depends on the time of year as they typically don’t show up until June or so. They are very easy to spot so they can be avoided. Hope to see you in the water!
Written April 10, 2019
What is the distance we need to swim from the shore to the best area for the snorkeling?
Reason for question: the amount of effort need to swim a couple hundred yards in a wet suit compared to,, let's say 50 yards.
Written June 1, 2018
Hi there. Thanks for inquiring about my tour! We do a guided marine life tour and lead you around the best areas of the site. You can see all kinds of things right at the starting beach but we do like to snorkel around. Kind of depends on the tide level but I would say we swim 100 yards or more from the starting area.
Hope to see you in the water!
Fred
Written June 2, 2018
SKD1954
Mount Pleasant, Michigan
What is the snorkeling like in late May? Is the water really only 48 degrees? (NOAA chart). Been a warm water snorkeler. Will the wet suite really keep me warm in those temps?
Written November 20, 2017
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you! I'm traveling and for some reason did not get the email notification from Trip Advisor. Water in late May is indeed about 48 to 50 degrees. I've been out as cold as 38 degrees in the same equipment and you actually stay warm!
Hope to see you in the water!
Written January 4, 2018
lanilei u
Jersey Shore, New Jersey
Hello. I am going on a cruise last week of Sept. and I saw about this. Is it still possible to snorkel at the end of the month? Does one really need to know how to swim?
Written September 5, 2017
The suit is very buoyant, but I think you definitely need to know how to swim.
Written September 11, 2017
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