Hello from Alaska

[AlaskanDiveGirl]

Just dropping in to post a quick hello from Alaska. New to this forum and thought I would introduce myself! Hoping to make some connections outside my state, although we have a fantastic dive community in Alaska and we are able to stay in touch often since we all dive year round on a regular basis, however I miss have a larger outreach and it is rather small community with very few outsiders.. we tend to isolate ourselves up here..so just trying to open up some connections across the world. Looking foward to meeting new divers and making new friends!

[LeadSled]

Hi! I have family up Juneau way. Some day I hope to dive that area, perhaps. Who knows?

Be sure to post some stories of your Alaskan diving adventures.

[drbill]

Welcome to DMX. I've met a few divers from Alaska... amazing that you dive year-round there. I'm just a warm water wussie... nothing below 48 F for me.

[Pasley]

Welcome to the DMX. Come on down to California and lets go diving. Anytime you want to come to the Southern California area just drop into the SoCal sub-forum here and give a shout and someone will go diving with you.

Be sure to update your profile. If you fill in where you are from, (city and state is nice or just state) then that will show in all your post so folks will know where in the world you are and your frame of reference on diving and just maybe you will find a neighbor who dives too.

[AlaskanDiveGirl]

Thank you for the warm welcome. I definetely will post my Alaskan diving adventures. When I was in the process of being certified, I remember being shocked to find out that the community dives year round. It is not surprising to find anywhere from 10 to 20 divers on any given Saturday getting ready to take in 2 or 3 dives in the local hole. Night dives are especially popular up here during the winter (no surprise as we have no night during the summer) and you will not find any problem finding a small group to join you on a Saturday night dive. I think because of the convenience of shore diving here, I have been lucky to log in quite a few dives already despite having only been certified for a few months.
However, I remember being in nearly a state of panic when I looked out over that freezing cold bay and thought, O MY GOD, I am about to go get certified in this hell... It had just snowed three feet of snow, you had to walk through that just to get to the shore with all your gear on, there was even snow collecting on the surface, they (the regulars) called it slush diving.... the outside temp was barely 20 degrees and water temperature that day was 36.....therefore diving here in the winter is not for the weak of heart.... lets just say that the "clearing of the mask" was the most dreaded part of the entire certification...brutally cold! But once I understood at how warm you stay in a dry suit and the beauty of life in the water year round, I was instantly hooked and once I received that certification, I have not stopped....its just so convenient to go grab some tanks and head over to the shore and dive... I do look forward to some warm water diving sooner than later... I keep wondering what it will feel like to dive wet??? LOL

[Pasley]

You make it sound so beautiful. I have heard about diving in Alaska, and reports of 70-100 foot crystal clear visibility on good days (is that true?). I must come up and visit. I have been to Alaska 3 time in February but never left the airport as we were heading to/from Japan on a military charter.

Book your self a cruise for next February (they are really hustling to get business and pricing is way down) in the Western Carri bean Grand Cayman (Carnival Cruise the ship Valor and get a corner cabin with a balcony, cost just a few pennies more but worth it), Roatan, Belize, Cozumel, 2 dives in every port and 80+ degree water with 100 foot visibility. You will love it. 2 days at sea with lots to do, or nothing but enjoy the Carribean sun on your balcony, great foot, 2 dives in every port, opportunities to sight see briefly after the dive. book the early dinner sitting (6:00) as that will let you out just in time for the first show (8:00) and you will be done and ready for bed by 10:00ish which is good as divers are first off the boat in the morning for port at 0700.

[AlaskanDiveGirl]

I personally have been able to witness visibility up to 70 feet and it was stunning....glaciel waters, sun just streaming through the water...wasn't alot of wildlife-few diving birds, a sea otter, wolf eel, sunflower stars, few crabs, sculpin, that was about it that day but what was breathtaking was experiencing for the first time the beauty of simply diving in the blue for no other reason than the joy of diving.....however on average through out the winter from what I have heard from the seasoned divers here is an average between 50 and 70 feet and the clearest vis from October through middle of March... just heard the algae bloom is in...so guess that means fairly limited vis for the next two months...all good...nothing like observing wildlife close and personal... guess this is a great time to see the Pacific Octi in action and lots of invertebrate life... don't think I would try that in the more open areas... not really sure I want to run into a whale that close up...generally like to see what is coming my way... guess the worry of larger predators is not much of a worry around here...except darn jelly fish... I don't know, summer diving in Alaska will be a new experience..I will have to post pics and stories as I find out...LOL also thank you for the heads up on the dive trip. My husband and I are planning some kind of dive trip next summer and will want to check out all the tips and leads that are suggested to us...

[Mark Vlahos]

I have been diving from the boat ramp at Whittier once. I had a great time! It was last April. I hooked up with "Snowbear" on this forum. It was during the time that the landslide closed the road for several weeks, and the only way through was the train. There was still a little snow on the ground, but it was mostly clear. The water was a balmy 38.

Have fun diving, and if you make it to pretty much any of the lower 48 or that little island state in the middle of the big ocean you should have no trouble meeting divers to team with.

Mark Vlahos

[AlaskanDiveGirl]

Yes, I do remember that land slide...thats crazy that you got stuck there during that time... I didn't realize that the train was still able to run through the old tunnel when that happened... Whittier...curious little town isn't it... I can't help but laugh every time I go there...this odd little town in the middle of no where....it does however have some of the most gorgeous views! I am glad to know you had such a great time in AK!