Diving in Alaska
Why dive here
Alaska offers some of United States's richest diving, with 58+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, blue whales, humpback whales, orcas and seals & sea lions.
Okay, Alaska. Let's just be clear: this isn't your average warm-water escape. This is serious cold-water diving, often extreme, and it demands respect. But if you're prepared, the rewards are genuinely unlike anywhere else we've been. Picture yourself descending into thick kelp forests, the fronds swaying like ancient underwater trees, while sea otters frolic nearby, completely oblivious to your presence. We love the sheer wildness of it here, the feeling of diving in genuinely untouched waters where every dive feels like an exploration. Our favorite experiences often involve encounters with Steller sea lions, their immense size and curious nature making for truly exhilarating dives. The visibility can be surprisingly good, sometimes stretching 20 meters, letting you appreciate the scale of the underwater landscape, from rugged pinnacles to deep reefs. You'll find a world dominated by various nudibranchs, wolf eels peeking from their lairs, and a surprising array of invertebrates like the vibrant parrot shrimp or the peculiar four-spined squat lobster. Don't forget Dutch Harbor for some fascinating WWII wreck diving, a stark contrast to the natural beauty but equally compelling. This isn't a place for casual divers; currents can be strong, and the water is always cold, even in summer. But for those seeking something raw, wild, and utterly unique, Alaska delivers.
Alaska Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Alaska
Alaska Dive Sites
89 dive sites in Alaska
Alarm Rocks
Brown Brothers, or "The Wrack" as most of us call it, isn't your typical Great Lakes wreck. Forget deep, dark, and frigid; this one sits comfortably shallow, making it a fantastic late-season dive when the lake finally warms up a bit. We’ve found the stern section offers the most intrigue, with its wooden beams now a lattice work for light to filter through. It’s a completely different vibe than the intact freighters. You’ll spend your time here exploring the broken hull, feeling the surge when the lake kicks up, and watching how the local fish use the wreckage as shelter. We've seen some surprisingly large Walleye lurking in the shadows, and the Shorthead Redhorse seem to love sifting through the silt near the collapsed bow. It's an easy dive, perfect for working on your buoyancy or just enjoying a relaxed afternoon underwater, feeling the history of these old lake boats. Our pick for an unhurried exploration.
Alert Rock
Alert Rock offers diving in Alaska, United States.
Amethyst Rock
Argentina in Stavanger doesn't scream tropical, but it offers a solid dive for those keen on Norway's cooler waters. We've seen a surprising number of hake and pollock hanging around the deeper sections, often with the occasional blackmouth catshark if you’re lucky. It's a relaxed site, good for knocking off some rust or just enjoying a quiet afternoon underwater. Visibility can be typical for the region, so we usually aim for a calm day to make the most of it. Expect a good chance of spotting some local birds like guillemots or even a razorbill near the surface too.
Bar Rocks
Bar Rocks is a dive site in Alaska, United States.
Benson Rock
Halifax. Now, this is a dive that really stands out on a good day. Tucked away on the north side of Cabbage Tree Island, it’s all about the topography here. We love dropping down into the gutters, following them as they wind through the reef. You’ll find yourself navigating past rocky outcrops covered in sponges and the occasional soft coral. Keep your eyes peeled for those smaller critters – the Banded Rockcod are a common sight, just hanging out in the crevices, and we’ve often spotted the Wrinkled Swimming Crabs scuttling across the sand patches. The real magic happens when the current is gentle and the sun is high. That’s when the light plays through the water, illuminating the vibrant colours of the sponges. It’s a relatively shallow dive, making it perfect for longer bottom times. We'd suggest this one for divers who enjoy exploring the nooks and crannies of a reef, rather than chasing pelagics. Our favourite part? Cruising through a particularly wide gutter, watching schools of small fish dart in and out of the shadows. Just keep an eye on the surge if there's any swell running; it can make navigating those gutters a bit more of a workout.
Bligh Reef
Aroa Rā’ui is one of those spots we always point people to, especially if they’re just getting their fins wet or want a relaxed afternoon in the shallows. Forget the big boats and deep drops for a moment. Here, you’re straight off the beach, wading into calm, clear water that rarely nudges past 6m. It's a fantastic place to just float and watch. We’ve seen Clown Butterflyfish weaving through the Staghorn coral, their yellows and blacks really popping against the blue. Schools of Gold-lined Seabream drift past, almost hypnotically. Look closely among the sand patches for the Black Sea Cucumbers, or if you’re lucky, a Granular Frog Shell. Our favorite find here has to be the Argus Grouper, often just chilling under a coral head. Visibility usually hovers around 10m, which feels ample when you're this close to the action. It's not a deep, dramatic dive, but a gentle, intimate peek into the lagoon’s smaller inhabitants. Perfect for honing buoyancy or just enjoying an easy, colorful drift.
Blow Reef
The Wilma isn't just a sunken boat; it’s a time capsule. We love how well-preserved this wreck is, sitting upright on the lakebed, offering a real sense of its past. You can fin along the deck, peer into hatches, and even glimpse the steering mechanism, still mostly intact. It’s a medium-sized wreck, perfect for a long, relaxed exploration, letting you take your time to appreciate the details. Visibility here can be surprisingly good on a calm day, sometimes pushing 15 meters, letting the light filter through and highlight the old timbers. We’ve found huge schools of baitfish, likely Rainbow Smelt, shimmering around the bow, and a few Mottled Sculpin peeking out from under a fallen mast. Keep an eye out for White Sucker nosing along the silt next to the hull. This dive is definitely for wreck enthusiasts who appreciate history and don't mind the chill of the Great Lakes. Bring a good torch to really poke around inside.
Bonson Rock
The 17 Fathom Wreck, or Wrack as it’s often called up here, is one of those Great Lakes dives that just sticks with you. We love it for its quiet majesty, a wooden schooner from the 1800s resting upright, almost perfectly preserved by the cold, fresh water. Dropping down, the visibility often extends far enough to see her mast reaching up, a ghostly finger pointing towards the surface. Our favourite part is exploring the deck, which is still remarkably intact. You can swim over open hatches and imagine the cargo she once carried. Look closely in the darker corners and you might spot a Slimy Sculpin or even a juvenile Lake Sturgeon, hunkered down, making the wreck their own. It’s not a dive for chasing flashy fish; it’s about the history, the silence, and the sheer scale of this sunken vessel. We’d suggest a strong dive light, not just for penetration (if you’re trained and comfortable), but to really bring out the details of the wood and the subtle colours of the algae growing on it. Expect chilly temperatures, even in summer, so a drysuit is definitely the play here. This wreck really suits divers who appreciate historical sites and the unique preservation offered by the Great Lakes.
Boussole Rock
Fly Point is one of those shore dives we find ourselves returning to again and again when we’re in Port Stephens. It’s an easy entry from the beach, and you’re pretty much straight onto the good stuff. What makes it special? The sheer volume of fish. You drift over sand patches and seagrass beds, and the place just pulses with activity. We’ve seen more nudibranchs here than almost anywhere else in NSW, little flashes of colour against the green and brown. Keep an eye out for seahorses swaying gently in the current, perfectly camouflaged. We often find schooling yellowfin bream and trevally just hanging out, and the resident blue groper are always curious, nudging in close. It’s a site that rewards slow diving; take your time, peek under ledges, and you'll spot countless small critters. Our favourite time to dive it is on a rising tide, when the water clarity is usually at its best, and the current helps you drift along with minimal effort. It’s a forgiving dive, well-suited for newer divers getting comfortable with shore entries, but still fascinating enough to keep experienced eyes busy for a full hour.
Breaker Reef
Breaker Reef offers a proper Alaskan cold-water experience. We’ve seen healthy stands of soft corals clinging to the rocky substrate, often shrouded in thick kelp forests. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs, rockfish, and the occasional wolf eel poking out from crevices. It’s a site for divers who appreciate the subtle beauty of temperate waters and are comfortable with cooler temperatures and potentially challenging surface conditions.
Carlo Rock
Carlingford is a cracking example of Great Lakes wreck diving, exactly what we look for when exploring these historic waters. She’s a timber schooner, remarkably intact, and it’s the sense of history that really gets us here. You can almost feel the chill of the original sinking. We love following the line of her hull, tracing the ribs and imagining the deck above. The visibility here can be tricky, especially after a good blow, but on a calm day, with the sun shafting through the water, it’s magical. The real draw, beyond the history, is the way the lake has reclaimed her. Freshwater mussels cling to every surface, and we’ve often spotted the odd Shorthead Redhorse nosing around the deeper sections of the wreck. Penetration is possible for experienced wreck divers, but we always advocate for a good light and plenty of training before you consider it. For most, an exterior tour is plenty rewarding. The stern is our favourite part, where the rudder still sits largely in place, a silent testament to her final moments. It’s a site that suits divers who appreciate historical context over colourful reefs, and who don’t mind the bracing chill of Canadian freshwater. Come prepared for the cold; a drysuit is non-negotiable in our book.
Celestial Reef
Celestial Reef in Alaska offers cold-water diving for experienced drysuit divers. Expect to see colorful anemones, sponges, and various rockfish clinging to the reef structure. The conditions here can be challenging, with strong currents and lower visibility common, so it's best suited for those comfortable with such environments. Dive planning is key, as conditions shift quickly.
Alaska Dive Centres
Ocean Wildlife in Alaska
58 species recorded in Alaska
Alaska Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Alaska, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
04:42
Sunset
19:01
Daylight
14h 18m
Golden Hour
18:13
First light (dawn) at 04:04 · Last light (dusk) at 19:39
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:58 | 15:57 | 8h 0m |
| Feb | 07:10 | 16:57 | 9h 47m |
| Mar | 06:06 | 17:50 | 11h 45m |
| Apr | 04:51 | 18:47 | 13h 56m |
| May | 03:49 | 19:41 | 15h 51m |
| JunLongest | 03:19 | 20:19 | 17h 0m |
| Jul | 03:37 | 20:12 | 16h 34m |
| AugNow | 04:27 | 19:20 | 14h 54m |
| Sep | 05:21 | 18:08 | 12h 47m |
| Oct | 06:14 | 16:55 | 10h 41m |
| Nov | 07:13 | 15:54 | 8h 41m |
| DecShortest | 07:58 | 15:29 | 7h 31m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Alaska.
Where to Stay near Alaska
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Marine Protected Areas near Alaska
2 protected areas near Alaska - please respect local regulations when diving
Forrester Island
Dall Bay
Getting to Alaska
Sandspit
Masset
Prince Rupert
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