This morning National Geographic Sea Lion was in a shroud of fog as we steamed toward the Inian Islands, the area that our early activities would take place. Luckily, as we anchored our vessel, the fog lifted, visibility increased, and we had great conditions for exploring this scenic and wildlife rich area by our inflatable boats! Even though we had some light rain, the incredible wildlife we encountered made for an exciting adventure. We had humpback whales resting on the surface close by our boats, as well as Steller sea lions busily feeding out in the very strong current that this area is noted for! Many bald eagles, sea otters, tufted puffins and a variety of other birds were also enjoyed by all! During lunch we repositioned National Geographic Sea Lion just a short way to George Island where we had a variety of different activities for the afternoon, including learning about World War II history in this area of Southeast Alaska.
9/3/2022
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National Geographic Quest
Ushk Bay and Peril Strait
National Geographic Quest arose amidst light clouds within the protected waters of Ushk Bay. This area is known for a salmon stream and yields plenty of opportunity for kayaking and exploring the vast meadows of its inner waterways. On this day’s occasion, guests were able to hike and paddle their way along the coast of Ushk Bay and witness firsthand the life cycle of Pacific salmon making their way upstream. As we transited through Peril Strait, we were lucky to see humpback whales. These immense mammals were “lunge feeding” very near our ship. Being able to witness this event was unique for guests and staff. Lunge feeding is process through which individual whales push their gaping mouths through the surface and collect any fish or planktonic invertebrates in the process. Witnessing this behavior was truly a remarkable experience for all. We will cherish this moment for a lifetime.
