Meet Your Guides
About
Snorkel Alaska
Alaskan Undersea Adventures With Expert Guides
Dive, Discover, & Learn
Embark on an unforgettable journey beneath Alaska’s waves with Snorkel Alaska. Explore vibrant marine habitats and get up close with unique undersea life, all under the guidance of our experienced experts. Dive in with confidence and satisfy your curiosity in Alaska’s pristine waters.
Discover the Snorkel Alaska Difference
Why Choose Us for Your Alaskan Snorkeling Experience?
Guaranteed Return to Ship
Your adventure with us pairs perfectly with your Alaskan adventure, whether you’re staying near Ketchikan or on a cruise. We guarantee your timely return to your ship, ensuring peace of mind throughout your excursion.
Safety First, Every Time
Our impeccable safety record is a testament to our commitment. With a team of Professional Association of Diving Instructors Divemasters and SCUBA Instructors guiding your snorkeling experience, we bring unmatched expertise to every tour.
All-Inclusive, Comfortable Experience
We provide all the essentials during your tour, including high-quality wet suits, snorkeling gear, hot showers, transportation, and more! Your satisfaction is guaranteed. You’ll stay toasty warm as you explore Alaska’s vibrant marine life.
Award-Winning Snorkeling Tour
Our snorkeling tour has been voted the season’s Shore Excursion of the Year seven times and given the Tour Guide of the Season award for eight seasons – in addition to other accolades showcasing our dedication to an unparalleled snorkeling adventure.
Our Story
Dive Deep Into the
Snorkel Alaska Legacy
Snorkel Alaska, since its inception in 2001, has been a beacon for underwater exploration in Alaska, allowing our guests to explore the waters and wildlife within while understanding and respecting Alaska’s vast marine ecosystem. Founded by Fred Drake, a SCUBA Diving Leadership specialist, we introduced the first-ever snorkeling tour to the state.
Our Mountain Point Snorkeling Adventure was a renowned Shore Excursion with major cruise lines. However, post-pandemic, we strategically adopted a more intimate, personalized approach, sidelining cruise line commissions while upholding top-notch safety standards.
Fred’s team, a skilled ensemble of Professional Association of Diving Instructors Rescue Divers, Divemasters, and Instructors, has welcomed over 50,000 guests to the Alaskan depths. Our accolades, including the ‘Shore Excursion of the Season’ from Princess Cruises seven times in ten seasons, the ‘Tour Guide of the Season’ eight times, and the 2009 Excellence in Tourism Award, underline our above and beyond service.
Today, Snorkel Alaska offers an all-inclusive, fully guided snorkeling excursion experience. Whether you’re an independent traveler, a local, or a cruise ship tourist, we invite you to dive deep, learn abundantly, and appreciate Alaska’s breathtaking marine world with us.
Our Founder
Meet Snorkel Alaska’s Founder Fred Drake
Fred Drake’s journey into the underwater world began on a family trip to Bermuda when he was 13, where he first went SCUBA diving. Two years later Fred was a certified PADI Open Water SCUBA Diver trained by Bermuda diving legend Dave McCleod.
Having grown up in Fairfield, Connecticut, his academic pursuits took him west to Humboldt State University in the Redwoods of Northern California. It was with the rigorous HSU SCUBA Diving Program that Fred delved deeper into the world of diving while majoring in Recreation Administration and Business. There, he took PADI Advanced, Rescue, and Divemaster classes. Beyond the books Humboldt’s allure lay in its vast outdoors, offering Fred a playground of whitewater kayaking, surfing, mountain biking, and more. After graduating from HSU, Fred received his PADI Open Water SCUBA Instructor rating and continued to work with the HSU diving program.
Transitioning from HSU, Fred soon found himself leading snorkeling excursions across various exotic locations with Norwegian Cruise Line’s Dive In Snorkeling program. In 1994 NCL sent its first ship to Alaska, The M/S Windward. It was then that Fred and another PADI instructor pioneered cruise ship based snorkeling tours in Ketchikan, Alaska. With all the gear on board and a team of multi-talented Divers on board, The Dive In to Adventure Program was born. Fred and the crew led snorkeling tours in Ketchikan but also assisted tour operators in each port with hiking, mountain biking and sea kayaking tours. Fred’s many years of white-water kayaking experience made him a natural sea kayak guide. With a kayak on loan from one of the local vendors Fred gave sea kayaking demonstrations and instructions in the ships pool! Forest Service permits were garnered so the Divers could also lead hikes on the countless trails of Southeast Alaska. And in Skagway a company provided mountain bikes and a van so mountain bike tours could be led by the ships Dive In to Adventure Guides.
After soaking in seven years of life on the seas and a brief tenure as the Division Manager of Gray Line of Alaska, Fred’s vision materialized with the inception of Snorkel Alaska in 2001. A testament to his dedication, he was honored as Ketchikan’s Tour Guide of the Year by Princess Cruises’ guests in the very same year. Fred continues to run and operate Snorkel Alaska, sharing his passion for the water and all things outdoors.
Meet the Team
Our Snorkeling Instructors & Tour Guides
Behind every unparalleled snorkeling experience at Snorkel Alaska stands our dedicated team. With extensive knowledge, unmatched expertise, and unwavering passion for marine adventures, each member boasts top-tier credentials in the world of diving. With a collective experience spanning decades, our Professional Association of Diving Instructors-certified Divemasters and SCUBA Instructors ensure every dive is both safe and unforgettable.
Blog Roll
Dive Into Our Latest Snorkeling Articles
Book Your Mountain Point
Snorkeling Adventure Now!
Ready for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure? With Snorkel Alaska, experience the vibrant marine life, pristine waters, and the awe of nature up close. Join our expert diving guides and create unforgettable memories in the beautiful Alaskan ocean.