George & Inian Islands
After only 5 minutes in 40-degree water, a fit person can begin the downward spiral towards hypothermia. Whales and pinnipeds have blubber and sea otters have unbelievably dense fur to combat cold water. Luckily a group of California surfers perfected the wetsuit, which today allowed me to explore beneath the waves of southeast Alaska.
Due to its location near the northern entrance to the Inside Passage, George Island has very high marine productivity and a fresh influx of saltwater free of glacial deposits. Capturing the rhythmic swaying of kelp with the ship’s underwater camera, I became enthralled with how similar the undulations are to the pulsations of a jelly’s bell. As the algae before me seemed to blur the line between plant and animal, I began to focus on the small hermit crab that claimed this float, or nematocyst, as its own. Diving in cold water is always a treat, this time was no different. From the dozens of algal species to the plentiful variety of sea stars, sea life is plentiful on this coast.
After warming up, we headed out to see more of the fantastic wildlife that Alaska has to offer, in the form of the largest sea lion on earth. However, before we could get a good look at the Northern sea lion, we first got to smell them. Approaching the granite islet near Inian Island from downwind, the smell of this haul-out was uniquely sea lion with just a hint of cormorant. Watching 1200-1400 pound bull sea lions scramble up the steep rocks was a fitting way to end a day immersed in the cold and nutrient rich waters of southeast Alaska.
After only 5 minutes in 40-degree water, a fit person can begin the downward spiral towards hypothermia. Whales and pinnipeds have blubber and sea otters have unbelievably dense fur to combat cold water. Luckily a group of California surfers perfected the wetsuit, which today allowed me to explore beneath the waves of southeast Alaska.
Due to its location near the northern entrance to the Inside Passage, George Island has very high marine productivity and a fresh influx of saltwater free of glacial deposits. Capturing the rhythmic swaying of kelp with the ship’s underwater camera, I became enthralled with how similar the undulations are to the pulsations of a jelly’s bell. As the algae before me seemed to blur the line between plant and animal, I began to focus on the small hermit crab that claimed this float, or nematocyst, as its own. Diving in cold water is always a treat, this time was no different. From the dozens of algal species to the plentiful variety of sea stars, sea life is plentiful on this coast.
After warming up, we headed out to see more of the fantastic wildlife that Alaska has to offer, in the form of the largest sea lion on earth. However, before we could get a good look at the Northern sea lion, we first got to smell them. Approaching the granite islet near Inian Island from downwind, the smell of this haul-out was uniquely sea lion with just a hint of cormorant. Watching 1200-1400 pound bull sea lions scramble up the steep rocks was a fitting way to end a day immersed in the cold and nutrient rich waters of southeast Alaska.
