We had another day of gorgeous weather here in Southeast Alaska, with sunshine and blue skies! The morning was spent onshore at Halleck Harbor bushwhacking, hiking, tide pooling and kayaking. We really enjoyed all that Alaska has to offer today. While everyone was enjoying the land and topside of the sea, our undersea team went on a dive at the mouth of the harbor, where there were so many incredible critters to see. We sailed south through the afternoon down Chatham Strait, where our whale-scouting efforts paid off. There were so many humpback whales on the horizon, it was hard to know which direction to look. A truly remarkable day!
9/3/2022
Read
National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
