Finally we got our boots wet! After two days of Zodiac tours around glaciers and a lovely afternoon in Petersburg, today we got into the real wilderness of Southeast Alaska. Halleck Harbor on Kuiu Island was the destination for the morning. As we sailed Chatham Strait over the afternoon, undersea specialist Paolo Marra-Biggs taught us that every other breath we take is thanks to the ocean, and local researcher Dr. Andy Szabo told us about the amazing work the Alaska Whale Foundation is doing.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .