Dawes Glacier sits at the end of Endicott Arm — a narrow fjord carved by this incredible river of ice. We had an amazing opportunity to be part of Dawes Glacier’s life today and we did not take that for granted. The ice conditions were perfect for exploring all this place has to offer, allowing our bridge officers to navigate National Geographic Quest quite close to the glacier’s face. Our Zodiacs allowed us to explore even closer for great views of resting harbor seals on ice and the odd Arctic tern that flew over our heads. What a truly remarkable way to end a magnificent voyage. Thank you for sailing with us, Noble Caledonia!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 20 Jul 2024
Endicott Arm, Southeast Alaska, 7/20/2024, National Geographic Quest
- Aboard the National Geographic Quest
- Alaska
Nick Brown, Divemaster
Born and raised on the edge of the Mojave Desert, Nick was accustomed to hot dry days, far from the ocean. Everything changed when he attended California State University Monterey Bay, a short 1.5 miles from the beaches of Central California. This is...
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6/2/2025
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We started our first full day on board by visiting the Dawes Glacier by Zodiac. As we floated among the growlers and bergy bits, we experienced multiple calving events. We observed many harbor seals with cute, brand-new pups relaxing on the ice. While cruising in the afternoon, we came across a few humpback whales. One humpback hung out close to the ship, lunge feeding and solo bubble netting. Another whale had some fun breaching in the distance, and a third showed off by tail slapping. We ended the day with a great view of Five Finger Lighthouse and look forward to our day in Petersburg tomorrow.
5/31/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Endicott Arm
Our final day here in Southeast Alaska was filled with steep fjords, awe-inspiring glaciers, fierce polar plungers, a number of humpbacks, and a beautiful sunset. As we spent the last day in Zodiacs, driving and adrift amongst the ice in front of Dawes Glacier, we were reminded of how tiny we are on this blue rock that abounds with natural beauty and ecological wonders. As the harbor seals swam by, we celebrated the journey with our shipmates, some partaking in a polar plunge. Then we turned off into the sunset surrounded by the sounds of humpback exhalations. Alaska has been a wonder, and we have been thoughtful visitors in a place fragile yet vast.