Within the Alaskan Wintertime the glacial runoff and plankton bloom is diminished alongside the shoreline. Due to this, our winter diving transitions from Resurrection Bay boat diving, to shore-based diving in Whittier at Smitty’s cove. Wintertime situations include things like h2o temps get as low as 38 degrees, however the visibility can make improvements to up to almost 100 ft. Smitty’s cove has debris which was dumped to the drinking water all through WWII. This debris incorporates pipes, railroad tracks, pilings, an plane fusalage, a railcar tanker, as well as elements of a crane which lie in drinking water ranging from thirty to a hundred toes.
The bottom composition is principally gravel inside the shallows, yielding to some deep “silt” arond 70 toes, You will discover sea pens and whips within the deep, and ling cod, octopus, rockfish and an entire selection of invertabrates and more compact fish. While in the winter you will find divers concentrated at Smitty’s cove because of the not enough accessibility to other h2o entrance here places. Industrial growth like a marine ferry terminal, railroad terminal, and marina occupy the vast majority of coastline. Smitty’s cove has lately been selected by town of Whittier being a marine sanctuary, but this status appears to remain to some degree tentative in mother nature and subject matter to political influences.
To dive Smitty’s cove, there is a small cost, even so the proprietor on the car parking zone has presented a warm up shack to the divers to work with right before and once the dives. To get to Whittier, you’ll drive south to the Seward Freeway from Anchorage for around one hour into the Anton Memorial Tunnel. This is the distinctive a person-way tunnel throughout the foundation of the mountain and makes it possible for traffic in and out of Whittier on an alternating routine. Be prepared to pay about $twelve for any spherical-trip ticket. Rental tanks and tools is on the market in Anchorage, without assistance and little in the best way of facilities in Whittier. The cove is safeguarded towards prevailing winds and waves most of the time, and represents a effortless dive website for Winter season time diving.
President of Dive Alaska, Scott has become a chilly-drinking water diver for 20 years. With comprehensive practical experience diving in south central Alaska, and working the locations only full time Skilled dive charter boat, Scott has an unlimited understanding of Alaskan waters.