Benson Rock - Alaska
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.
- Location
- Alaska, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 53.732933, -133.045090
Nearby Dive Sites in Alaska
- Alarm Rocks (wreck)
- Alert Rock
- Amethyst Rock
- Bar Rocks
- Bligh Reef (reef)
- Blow Reef (wreck)
- Bonson Rock (wreck)
- Boussole Rock
- Breaker Reef (reef)
- Carlo Rock (wreck)
- Celestial Reef (reef)
- Chanal Reef (reef)
- Client Reefs (wreck)
- Cluster Reefs
- Cohen Reef (reef)
Marine Life in Alaska
Home to 64 recorded species including 27 reef fish, 8 whales & dolphins, 7 crabs & lobsters, 5 sharks & rays, 3 other, 2 clams & mussels.
Notable Species
- Pacific herring (Clupea pallasii) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei)
- Shortspine thornyhead (Sebastolobus alascanus) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Dogfish (Squalus suckleyi) - Sharks & Rays
- Calico salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) - Reef Fish
- Eulachon (Thaleichthys pacificus) - Reef Fish
- Whiting (Merluccius productus) - Reef Fish
- coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) - Reef Fish
- Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) - Reef Fish
- Pacific Geoduck (Panopea generosa) - Clams & Mussels
- Slender Sole (Lyopsetta exilis) - Reef Fish
- red salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) - Reef Fish
- Red Rock Crab (Cancer productus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- California Spot Prawn (Pandalus platyceros) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Shiner Perch (Cymatogaster aggregata) - Reef Fish
- Giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) - Seagrass & Algae
- Dungeness Crab (Metacarcinus magister) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Spawn (Gasterosteus aculeatus) - Reef Fish
- Sunflower star (Pycnopodia helianthoides) - Starfish
- Chinook (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) - Reef Fish