For everyone out there who hates the cold like me, let me tell you, this adventure was great and I did not freeze! I was joking when I checked it that I am someone who gets cold at lunch eating outside on a 70 degree F day, let alone snorkeling in the ocean.
Our guide, Sam, noted we would be in 5mm wetsuits with wetsuit gloves, boots/socks, and the option to take a hood after I told her I thought I was going to freeze. This was all foreign speak to me at the time, but like I said, I did not freeze!
On the way out, the boat came across a humpback whale, so the captain killed the engine and let us watch the whale for about 5-10 minutes due to passenger interest.
Once out at the first snorkel location, we slid into the water. Our guide Sam said you would feel cold for about a minute and then you would feel fine after that, which was true. It’s cold as the water comes into the wetsuit (as it’s supposed to), but then it heats up and all is good. We swam with Sam a bit over to a nearby rocky area with seals. We snorkeled in the area for about 30 minutes or so seeing other creatures too including mussels, crabs, and starfish.
After the first snorkel area, we headed back into the boat. All passengers were offered a cup of hot chicken noodle soup while the captain drove us to the next location. I mentioned I was gluten free and could not eat noodles, so I instead was offered a cup of hot chocolate, which I happily took.
At the second area, passengers had the option to snorkel again, kayak, or stand-up paddle board. My boyfriend chose to snorkel again, while I chose to stand-up paddle board. On my adventure, I stayed warm in the wetsuit (despite not being in the water and being in the shade) and was able to paddle with the other paddle boarders and kayakers along the shore. We saw several different areas of seals in and out of the water, starfish, seagulls, and a deer! I was able to get relatively close to the seals on the paddle board. If anyone got too close and they felt threatened though, they would all start jumping in the water and swim away, so it’s a delicate balance of watching them while giving them enough space to feel comfortable.
On my boyfriend’s second snorkel adventure, he noted it was colder snorkeling in the shade (first time was in the sun) and by the end he said he was starting to get cold in the wetsuit. At the second area, he was in the water, in the shade, swimming much less than in the first area, but he was able to watch seals on the bottom underneath him and other sea creatures in the water. Plus he was able to watch the seals on the shore. Some of the seals in the water were very curious and would swim with 10 or so feet of him!
After the second stop, we all boarded the boat again and were told if we wanted to jump off the upper deck, we were more than welcome to (a standing tradition started by a child a few years ago who asked to jump). We had a small group and everyone decided to jump! (Though some of us, including myself, needed a bit of extra coaching/cheering to get up the nerve!) After that, we all climbed back on board and were given a cup of hot chocolate during the ride back.
Our guide, Sam, and our boat captain were both great and we had a great time! Plus I bought one of the underwater phone cases they sold at the check-in desk so I even have some cool pictures from in and under the water to share with friends/family. This is a great company and a great trip. I would definitely recommend it! – via 
Own or work here?
Your request has been submitted successfully.
