Ocean Connection Tour
Experience the incredible beauty of Kachemak Bay from the water on this three-hour guided tour. See marine mammals at haul-outs and seabirds at rookeries, and visit an oyster farm to enjoy a tasting. Our onboard naturalist will serve as your guide for the entire excursion and provide expert insights to Kachemak Bay's incredible landscapes and ocean ecosystems.
Departing by boat from Homer Spit, guests will have the opportunity to visit our Peterson Bay Field Station and explore the sea star and intertidal touch-tanks and aquaria. Look for whales, puffins, otters, harbor seals, and other amazing marine life along the way. Stand on a dock and taste freshly harvested oysters while chatting with the farmers themselves–a perfect ocean-to-table experience.
This tour requires a minimum of 4 participants to run.
Price
Adults (age 12+): $175
Children (ages 2-11): $95
Senior (ages 65+): $155
Infant (ages 2 and under): $35
Dates
June 10 - August 29, 2024; Mondays and Thursdays
Departing: 12:30pm
Returning: 3:30pm
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This is a 3-hour tour of Kachemak Bay, highlighting local wildlife havens, the Peterson Bay Field Station, and local oyster farms.
These boats are smaller than those of a typical wildlife cruise. While there is covered seating available on the boat, a good portion of the tour will encourage you to be outside. Please dress for the weather and expect cooler conditions than forecasted!
Departure location: Ramp 2 at the Homer Harbor. Please meet us at the Coastal Studies Yurt on the Spit at the top of Ramp 2.
We suggest you bring a snack, water bottle, waterproof boots and rain gear, and binoculars and/or a camera
This tour requires a minimum of four people to run. If your party is the only one registered and is smaller than four, you will be notified and have the option to cancel, rebook, or pay for the additional seats to meet the minimum.
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Visit to Gull Island, a seabird rookery and marine mammal haul-out
A knowledgeable Coastal Studies naturalist guiding and interpreting the whole trip
Oyster tasting with local oyster farmers
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Is there indoor space on the boats?
The boats are smaller than other wildlife cruise ships may be. There is room for covered seating in the cabin, but a good portion of the tour will require you to be outside. As the saying goes: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just ill-suited clothing! Expect cooler ocean weather!
What happens if the weather prevents the tour from running?
It is highly unlikely that Homer’s typical summer weather would prevent a boat from leaving harbor. Even in the rain, the seas are usually calm enough to still experience the tour. Our boat captains are extremely experienced and knowledgable, and we defer to their judgement calls regarding weather and ocean conditions. In the unlikely event a tour cannot run due to weather, you will be notified in advance and given the opportunity to rebook or receive a refund.
Will I see glaciers on the tour?
The primary glacier visible in the Kenai Mountains from Kachemak Bay is Grewingk Glacier. It is a valley glacier which ends in a lake situated a few miles from the shoreline. It is visible from a distance in many parts of Homer. Due to the geography of the bay and our usual route, we cannot cruise the face of the glacier, and it is difficult to see Grewignk on the Ocean Connection tour. If weather permits, you may view alpine glaciers and snowpack in the Kenai Mountains.
Will I see whales on the tour?
While we cannot guarantee any wildlife sightings during the tour, we will be traveling through wildlife hotspots. Our captains communicate with other vessels in the area about recent marine wildlife sightings including Humpback whales, Minke whales, Orcas, and other species of note.
Will I get seasick?
You will be touring through the protected waters of Kachemak Bay, where the chance of seasickness is generally low. If you are prone to any kind of motion sickness, we recommend taking an over-the-counter motion sickness medication (like Dramamine) prior to the tour.