I'm glad I've happened across this thread. Hi Ken!! I spent a couple of months in Alaska a few years ago, in Jan & Feb. Sure it's cold then, but it's a wonderfully fresh cold that I need every now and again.
I dived three locations - Sitka/Juneau, Whittier (from Anchorage), Nome. I can honestly say my first dive in Whittier (with Alaska Cold Water Divers - great crowd) was the coldest dive I have ever made, and most of my diving prior to coming to Belize was cold water diving. To be fair, it was a night dive, and as I recall it was 10pm or so. And although I had carried a trilaminate suit with me I hadn't taken my thinsulate undersuit, and I put on as many of my general clothes as I thought would fit under the drysuit. It wasn't enough. It was only a weekend, and the day dives the following two days were much warmer. Although I haven't been there for 7 years I still get the monthly newsletters written by Jerry & Lisa (who run the club) and their descriptions really help me visualise Smitty's Cove. It's micro diving, where you cover a small area but the sealife is amazing. And one dive was the only one I've ever seen Orcas underwater whilst diving, two of them - a mother and pup (cub? calf?.....). That's cold water diving at its best.
At Sitka I was lucky enough to meet up with the local vet and doctor, and go out with them on their regular fishing trips. They went down with lead boots (not literally, but they did stay glued to the bottom) while I free scuba'd around them. That and the incredible scenery made for a highly memorable few days. Unfortunately my camera housing flooded on my last day and I lost everything so only have my memories. But hey, they give the best pictures.
Nome was quite an experience. Ice diving with a vengeance. The first time I've ever dived under an ice sheet which had an aircraft parked on it a few hundred yards away! The ice was several feet thick and the hole was kept clear with a chainsaw. Vis was dreadful and the dive was shallow and short. But what an experience.
I owe my good friends in Anchorage a repeat visit some time, so if Ken (Yakivet) plans a trip up there any time I can make I'd be seriously interested in joining in the fun. I'd have to get one of my drysuits sent over from the UK though. And buy some more decent cold water gear to replace what's recently been stolen from me.
I made the mistake on that trip of going prepared for too many activities. As well as scuba gear I had equipment for ice climbing & ski mountaineering and parachuting. Meant I was really lugging around a lot of gear that I only used once or twice. Next time I'll rent or borrow.
Bottom line is - I think Alaska is GREAT and would like to live there some day. Trouble is, as a Brit I wouldn't be allowed to.
