Snorkel Alaska, since its inception in 2001, has been a beacon for underwater exploration in Alaska, allowing our guests to explore the waters and wildlife within while understanding and respecting Alaska’s vast marine ecosystem. Founded by Fred Drake, a SCUBA Diving Leadership specialist, we introduced the first-ever snorkeling tour to the state.

Our Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure was a renowned Shore Excursion with major cruise lines. However, post-pandemic, we strategically adopted a more intimate, personalized approach, sidelining cruise line commissions while upholding top-notch safety standards.

Fred’s team, a skilled ensemble of Professional Association of Diving Instructors Rescue Divers, Divemasters, and Instructors, has welcomed over 50,000 guests to the Alaskan depths. Our accolades, including the ‘Shore Excursion of the Season’ from Princess Cruises seven times in ten seasons, the ‘Tour Guide of the Season’ eight times, and the 2009 Excellence in Tourism Award, underline our above and beyond service.

Today, Snorkel Alaska offers an all-inclusive, fully guided snorkeling excursion experience. Whether you’re an independent traveler, a local, or a cruise ship tourist, we invite you to dive deep, learn abundantly, and appreciate Alaska’s breathtaking marine world with us.

Snorkeling in Ketchikan just might be the highlight of your trip to Alaska!

Sounds crazy doesn’t it? The snorkeling in Alaska is amazing. Alaska’s intertidal zone provides a rich assortment of plants and animals to view. Don't worry about being cold. Our water temperature averages about 55 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and reach a high of 65 degrees in July. We provide full 7mm wetsuits with a hood, boots and gloves to keep you warm while in the water. Wetsuits keep you warm by filling with a thin layer of water which heats up to body temperature in just a few minutes time.

Discover the wonders of Southeast Alaska’s marine life with our premium snorkeling adventure at Mountain Point. Dive into clear, calm waters equipped with top-tier gear, guided by our certified experts. The site has shallow tide pools teeming with marine life and steep underwater rock walls for free diving, all just five miles from your ship. Join us for a thrilling and safe exploration of Alaska’s diverse and colorful marine life!

The Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is an all inclusive Shore Excursion. We provide everything you need to snorkel safely and comfortably in our waters. We include roundtrip transportation, full instructions, all the equipment and a fully guided one hour marine life tour in addition to hot showers, drinking water, hot chocolate, coffee and tea.

Behind every unparalleled snorkeling experience at Snorkel Alaska stands our dedicated team. With extensive knowledge, unmatched expertise, and unwavering passion for marine adventures, each member boasts top-tier credentials in the world of diving. With a collective experience spanning decades, our Professional Association of Diving Instructors-certified Divemasters and SCUBA Instructors ensure every dive is both safe and unforgettable.

Don’t miss this once in a lifetime experience!

*Duration: 3 Hours (4 for NCL Guests at Ward Cove with transportation)

*Participants must weigh between 80 - 260 pounds or 35 to 118 kilograms to insure proper wetsuit fit. Suggested maximum age limit is 65. You should also be reasonably physically fit, have good mobility and not have any major health issues.

*What You Can See:
- Kelp Forest
- Sea stars & Urchins
- Colorful Invertebrates
- Jellyfish
- Humpback Whales
- Seals
- Myriad of Fish Species

*What's Included:
- Transportation to/from ship
- 7mm wetsuit
- Hood
- Boots
- Gloves
- Flippers
- Snorkel
- Secure storage for personal items
- Heated dressing rooms
- A return-to-ship guarantee
- A refreshing hot beverage post-dive
- Professional guides that are all PADI professionals with Rescue Diver, Divemaster, or Scuba Instructor Certifications – with CPR and First Aid training


*What to Bring
- Bathing suit
- Towel
- Extra pair of socks (this makes it easier to put your wetsuit on)
- Cash or credit card to purchase souvenirs and / or to tip your guides

*Health Reminder
- Due to the potentially strenuous nature of snorkeling in Alaska, we must deny participation for any form of past or present heart condition. Heart conditions include but are not limited to: murmurs, flutters, mitral-valve pro-lapse, stints, pacemakers, defibrillators, angina, bradycardia, tachycardia, congestive heart failure, bypass surgery, valve replacement etc.

- We also deny participation for major respiratory disorders like bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, exercise-induced asthma or history of seizures or fainting. No refunds can be provided the day of the tour for any of these medical restrictions. Also, anyone under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian sign our Liability Release Form which we administer prior to departure. Let us know if you have any questions or concerns what so ever.

FAQ
*How cold is the water?
- The average summer water temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface. Surface temperatures fluctuate between a low of 45 degrees in the spring and a high of 65 degrees in mid-summer.

*What is there to see?
- From the smallest barnacle to a massive Humpback Whale swimming by, you’ll see a wide variety of colorful creatures. Our website offers just a small glimpse of Alaska’s intertidal marine life. All of the photos here were taken while snorkeling at Mountain Point.

*What’s included in the tour?
- Everything you need to snorkel safely and comfortably in our waters is included. We also provide roundtrip transportation from the downtown cruise ship docks. All guests are outfitted with full 7mm Harvey’s or SCUBAPRO wetsuits, hoods, boots, and gloves. We provide top-of-the-line Tusa & SCUBAPRO masks and Twin Jet fins. Prescription masks and optional weight belts for freediving are also available. You will receive complete instruction, in-water supervision, and a one-hour guided marine life tour conducted by our experienced guides. Beginners are always welcome! Hot beverages and water are also included.

*Can I bring my own camera and/or gear?
- Of course! You’re more than welcome to bring any or all of your own equipment, aside from your full-face mask. (They simply don’t seal well with a hood and the plastic lenses fog up profusely. Trust us — we’ve tried them many times.) But that’s a lot to pack for a cruise. While you certainly have the option of bringing your own gear, rest assured all of our gear is top-of-the-line and cleaned and sanitized after every tour.

We do highly recommend bringing along a camera or GoPro to capture this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

*Will I have a good time?
- Yes, yes, yes! And we’re not the only ones saying it:
|7-time winner of the Princess Cruises Shore Excursion of the Year Award
|8 Snorkel Alaska tour guides have received the Princess Cruises Tour Guide of the Year Award
|Winner of the 2009 Excellence in Tourism Award from the Ketchikan Visitor Bureau
|Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence Winner in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019
|Trip Advisor Travelers Choice Award 2020
|Our guests frequently remark that this was their favorite Shore Excursion of the cruise.

*How Long Is the Tour?
- The Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure is 3 hours from start to finish. (For NCL guests and any ships docking at The Mill in Ward Cove, plan on 4 hours.) We guarantee you at least one hour in the water and up to an hour and 20 minutes depending on how quickly everyone gets into their wetsuits. Our shop is conveniently located 4 miles from town which is about a 10-minute bus ride. Mountain Point is another mile down the road. The rest of the time is spent changing, conducting safety briefings, and enjoying hot showers and cocoa after the tour. We also have a great selection of souvenir hats, T-shirts, and hoodies to choose from.

*Which tour time should I book?
-If you are docking in downtown Ketchikan, you can book a tour time that is a minimum of 30 minutes after your ship’s published arrival time. The cruise ships are very punctual, so a 7:00 am arrival time means the gangways are set and you can disembark promptly at 7:00 am. Therefore, a 7:30 am tour time is perfectly doable. All tours meet and depart from the Ketchikan Liquid Sunshine Gauge located adjacent to the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau at Berth 2. There are 4 cruise ship docks in Ketchikan, all just a short walk to the Rain Gauge. Note that if your cruise ship does happen to be running late, we will wait for you.

If you are arriving on NCL or at The Mill at Ward Cove, you should allow a minimum of 1 hour to take the free shuttle bus to town. If your ship docks at 7:00 am, then an 8:00 am departure or later would be ideal.

*What is the Back-to-Ship Guarantee?
-We can 100% guarantee that you will not miss your ship! Our company owner, Fred Drake, has worked on cruise ships for 7 years and understands the importance of getting back to the ship on time. All of our tours are scheduled to give you plenty of time to snorkel, see the port of Ketchikan, and get back to your ship well before the posted sail away time.

Snorkel Alaska guarantees that you will get back to your ship on time, provided that all of the following requirements apply:

Your tour is scheduled to end no less than 1 hour prior to the scheduled departure time of your cruise ship. It is your responsibility to confirm your ship’s departure time prior to booking, in addition to re-confirming the ship’s itinerary on the day of the tour.
The delay in returning to the ship was due to no fault or action of your own.
In the event that you are not returned back to your cruise ship before it departs, Snorkel Alaska will cover up to USD $500 per person towards transportation and/or accommodation necessary for your travel to the next port of call. Receipts are required for reimbursement.