In the morning we divided up to explore Grindall Island. The long hikers went up to a beautiful lake and “bushwhacked” well beyond it. The photo hikers barely made it past the beach. The intertidal zone was spectacularly diverse and made for fantastic tide-pooling. We then circumnavigated the island on Zodiacs where we saw bald eagles, an abundance of ochre stars, sea urchins, and lots and lots of sea lions. After lunch we went on a tour and tasting of Hump Island Oyster Farm. We learned about the process and challenges of running an oyster farm and sampled the products. The Global Explorers learned how to use the ROV, or Remotely Operated Vehicle, under the docks of the oyster farm.
6/14/2025
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National Geographic Quest
Southeast Alaska
On the last full day of our voyage, we woke in Endicott Arm near the Dawes Glacier. We spent the morning enjoying Zodiac tours to the face of Dawes Glacier and watched multiple calving events. We were also able to spot several harbor seals, waterfalls, and a couple harbor porpoises on the way. After lunch we had the opportunity to participate in a polar plunge. Forty people decided to brave the frigid water for a short swim. Those of us not eager to jump into glacier water were able to watch from the bow. After the polar plunge, we warmed up on board as we started transiting towards Juneau. On the way, we stopped at a beautiful waterfall to once again admire the amazing natural beauty of Alaska. During our farewell recap, we were treated to a quick visit by a humpback whale. We ended our day with a slideshow made up of our favorite photos and memories of an amazing week on board National Geographic Quest .