Board a rigid-hull Zodiac with an expert Arctic naturalist and cruise the nutrient-rich Beaufort Sea shallows where beluga and bowhead whales feed in summer. One of the most thrilling cetacean encounters on Earth, in one of its most dramatic seascapes.
What to expect
Launching from Pauline Cove, your Zodiac skirts the kelp-rich coastline where beluga pods congregate in the shallow, ice-cold waters of the Beaufort. Your naturalist narrates the ecology of the western Arctic Ocean — the role of sea ice, the boom-and-bust of Arctic char runs, the return of bowhead whales once hunted to near-extinction here. Binoculars up, you'll scan rocky outcroppings for ringed and bearded seals, and the sky for Arctic terns and black guillemots nesting in their thousands on the cliffs of Pauline Cove. The combination of raw wilderness and expert storytelling makes this a genuinely transcendent morning on the water.
Good to know
Immersion suits or drysuits are provided; dress warmly in base layers beneath. Confirm operator availability and book private group slots at least 3 months ahead — summer windows are short. Morning departures offer the calmest sea conditions and best wildlife activity.