Located in the world's largest temperate rain forest, Sitka's winters are exactly that - temperate. We are not the freezing, below zero, never see the sun Alaska most people think of. Our average temperate is about 40 degrees. And with the colder weather, comes more clear, sunny days, which makes for a year-round outdoor sports arena! We do get snow a couple of time a year. Just long enough to do some good hard playing, then its is usually gone before you know it. This year we have had more than normal. Which has been a lot of fun. How can you not feel twelve when you get up in the morning and look out your window and everything is covered in snow. YEA!
Dive season in Sitka is in the winter as visibility is at its peak. Viability is often around 100 feet. The water is so clear you can almost see to Canada (it gets a little cloudy around BC). Seriously, it is not uncommon to see your anchor drop on the bottom while sitting in the boat. Good visibility starts to clear in October and the best diving is in January and February. Going on a crystal clear, winter day is my favorite time to go. With the diminished sunlight, the night diving is excellent. The only time you really can dive in Sitka is late March and early April. The herring spawn really clouds the water and you can't see you hand in front of your face. Plus you just know what you swimming in, ick.
Hiking in the winter is wonderful as well. The forest is very different but equally beautiful, and you don't generally have to worry about running into a bear. The creeks and rivers form ice bells, and the evergreen are frosted just like that fake Christmas tree with snow on it Grandma us to have. Biking is a little tougher if their is snow on the trails. But the mountain roads are still good for biking the majority of the time.
Located in the world's largest temperate rain forest, Sitka's winters are exactly that - temperate. We are not the freezing, below zero, never see the sun Alaska most people think of. Our average temperate is about 40 degrees. 
And with the colder weather, comes more clear, sunny days, which makes for a year-round outdoor sports arena! We do get snow a couple of time a year. Just long enough to do some good hard playing, then its is usually gone before you know it. This year we have had more than normal. Which has been a lot of fun. How can you not feel twelve when you get up in the morning and look out your window and everything is covered in snow. YEA! 
Dive season in Sitka is in the winter as visibility is at its peak. Viability is often around 100 feet. The water is so clear you can almost see to Canada (it gets a little cloudy around BC). Seriously, it is not uncommon to see your 
anchor drop on the bottom while sitting in the boat. Good visibility starts to clear in October and the best diving is in January and February. Going on a crystal clear, winter day is my favorite time to go. With the diminished sunlight, the night diving is excellent. The only time you really can dive in Sitka is late March and early April. The herring spawn really clouds the water and you can't see you hand in front of your face. Plus you just know what you swimming in, ick. 
Hiking in the winter is wonderful as well. The forest is very different but equally beautiful, and you don't generally have
to worry about running into a bear. The creeks and rivers form ice bells, and the evergreen are frosted just like that fake Christmas tree with snow on it Grandma us to have. Biking is a little tougher if their is snow on the trails. But the mountain roads are still good for biking the majority of the time.
