Морские круизы

Marine cruises are very popular with Kamchatka visitors and its residents. Mostly, they are single day tours which differ in duration and itinerary. Some agencies offer two or three day tours. New offers – sea cruises along Kamchatka sea shore and to the Commander and Northern Kuril Islands are gaining more popularity. 

To feel good vibes radiated by this place, one should pick up a bout trip, offered by several bout tour operators in Petropavlovsk. Trip timing varies from 5 to 6 hours.

A boat will take you past Nikolskaya Hill, Tikhaya Cove, Babushkin Rock Island, Cape Stanitskogo and Three Brothers Rock Pinnacles, located at the entrance to the bay, reputed as a symbol of Kamchatka. The legend says these rock pinnacles used to be handsome young men in ancient times. They belonged to a tribe living on a shore of Avacha Bay. The tribe suffered from tsunami and the brothers decided to protect their people from giant waves. They stood at the entrance to the bay blocking the way with their bodies to great surges. They have been standing there since that time…

Not far from Three Brothers a small piece of land rises above the water. It is Starichkov Island. Its area is about 100 km2. This treeless rocky atoll is a seabird rookery. Every year over 50,000 tufted puffins, guillemots, kittiwakes, cormorants, and seagulls hatch there. This island also provides a nesting ground for a pair of unique Steller’s sea eagles – rare birds listed in the Red Book of Russia. Reefs around are popular among seals and sea otters. In 2003 Starichkov Island became a natural monument.

Two capes Bezymianny and Mayachny make the gates to the bay. Several large and small convenient coves are scattered along the coastline. During storms they provide protection for ships which call at bay to survive bad weather. Two big rivers Avacha and Paratunka flow into the bay from the Northwest, forming a large floodplain with numerous arms and islets at the juncture.

Avacha Bay is 3 km wide at its entrance and up to 26 meters deep. It is inhabited by 32 species of fish. The fauna and flora of the bay is diverse and colorful. There are several species of starfish, urchins, anemones, colonial hydroids, sponges, holothurians, and numerous species of fish. Divers can enjoy both photography and underwater hunting.

Almost 20 km of the bay’s northern coast is occupied by Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. No doubt, the bay is not only a place to delight the eye but it’s also a great underwater sport.