Set like a brilliant blue sapphire against a backdrop of towering mountains, Resurrection Bay is a deep fjord that runs in a north to south direction along the Kenai Peninsula's southeast coast. A sheltered area that is home to abundant marine life, this is without a doubt one of the best places to dive Alaska has to offer. There are many dive sites to explore; the ones you see will likely be dictated by the weather and by the experience levels of the divers in your group. If you prefer to rent a boat and enjoy diving Resurrection Bay on your own, you can easily do so, and if you like kayak diving, you'll be right at home here.
Resurrection Bay: Highlights and Outstanding Features
Most Resurrection Bay diving is done from boats, and as you travel from one site to the next, you'll be amazed at the abundant natural beauty that surrounds you. Some lucky divers are treated to sights such as Humpback Whales raising fins or tail flukes from the water, or even Orcas breaching. Sea lions are abundant here, as are colorful puffins and sleek cormorants; bald eagles can be seen perched on trees and boulders along the shoreline, flying overhead, or plummeting in a display of strength and agility into the bay to catch shimmering fish.
Once beneath the surface, at sites with names like Shackle, Shark's Tooth, Hidden Treasure, or Mary's Rock, the life you see will continue to astound you. You will not have to hunt to find nudibranchs, starfish, sea pens, sea cucumbers, or sea urchins among the rocks; these creatures are right at home among the colorful and abundant plumose and beaded anemones that thrive here.
The fish and crustaceans are abundant at Resurrection Bay as well. Watch for Puget Sound King Crabs, Dungeness Crabs, little decorator crabs, and huge Lingcod, along with Wolf Eels peering from rocky lairs and schooling black rockfish.
Conditions here vary seasonally, with mostly moderate tides that average six to twelve feet. Though glaciers stretch their icy fingers toward the bay, it remains free of ice during the winter months and is easily navigable all year round. Depths vary greatly, so if you're planning a dive without a local guide be absolutely sure you consult charts and bring a depth finder with you before plunging into the ice cold water as the deepest areas are nearly 1,000 feet below the surface. Even close to shore, there are dramatic dropoffs, and while this creates some spectacular wall diving for those with the necessary experience, newer divers will need to be certain not to exceed their limits.
There are a few different ways to experience Resurrection Bay. Most people head to Seward, where water taxis and charter boats as well as rental kayaks are readily available; you can access Lowell Point by driving about 2 1/2 miles south of the city, or you can take Nash Road to a campground located near Spring Creek. To access the furthest reaches of the bay, you'll need to arrange for a float plane or take a longer boat cruise - both fun options for exploring Alaska and viewing the state's abundance of wildlife, viewing the Kenai Fjords, and diving along a rugged, rocky coastline that never seems to end.
The best time to visit Resurrection Bay is during the summer season, when the wildlife and marine life is at its best. In addition to the whales and sea lions you're certain to encounter, watch for Dall's porpoises, Sea Otters, and more than one hundred different seabird species. Bring your camera and enjoy what is certain to be an unforgettable experience.