Closer to the Wild offers private boat charters and photography tours departing the beautiful City of Seward, Alaska. Explore the amazing marine life and fjords of Resurrection Bay and the towering tidewater glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park! Along the way search for the abundance of wildlife highlighting whales, Orca, Sea Otters, Seals, Sea Lions and the charismatic Puffins.
Closer to the Wild specializes in photographing this wild place while providing an adventure of a lifetime. Navigate the bays and fjords like the locals do in our 24’ Hewescraft OceanPro aluminum pilothouse boat. Get up close and personal with the wonders of this pristine ecosystem that was carved by glaciers thousands of years ago. The Harding Icefield is the largest in the United States covering an impressive 30 miles wide by 50 miles long with a depth of 4,000ft. This icefield feeds these massive glaciers, as we watch with cameras in hand at the terminus for the frequent calving of ice chunks collapsing into the waters below providing a spectacular spectacle.
The captain and owner is a published Alaska based wildlife photographer with many years of experience to help all levels of photographers in making amazing images for their portfolio. Being in a small group makes for easy communication to assure you are getting what you envision since we all have a unique artistic eye. We will look for repeatable behavior to maximize opportunities and without a strict itinerary we will have the time necessary to put it all together. Would you rather spend your time with whales and Orca, Glaciers and Puffins? Maybe you want to spend the time with a certain subject longer – not a problem. The goal on every trip is to give you a variety of opportunities and subjects if nature is willing.
Check out our Tours Page for more in-depth information about our tours and Private Charters. We look forward to seeing you!
Meet the Captain
Captain Daniel Carline holds a United States Coast Guard issued Merchant Mariner Credential OUPV Operator License. Daniel is also certified in Adult and Pediatric First Aid, CPR and is fully insured.
During the summer of 2011 Daniel boarded one of the many large whale watching boats in the Seward harbor with a camera around his neck and binoculars in hand. On the journey he was awestruck by the beauty and wildlife he encountered with the friends that introduced him to the area. After many annual visits to Alaska on photo excursions Daniel and his wife Tiffany moved here in 2019 to pursue adventure. Having a strong passion for the ocean, wildlife and photography lead Daniel to obtaining a Captains License to view and photograph wildlife here in Alaska with guests.
About our vessel
The Vessel is a 24’ Hewescraft OceanPo with Alaskan bulkhead to keep the elements out and keep you comfortable in the heated cabin giving a full 360 degrees of unobstructed views. Navigate the bays and fjords like the locals do in this deep V pilot house aluminum boat that allows us to keep a low profile giving a unique perspective to view wildlife while keeping that plane of view low to the water line for excellent imagery. Hewescraft Boats have a reputation in Alaska and for a good reason, they are designed and manufactured to float in the event of an emergency—if the boat is submerged or capsized.
Stay dry in the heated cabin during inclement weather conditions, while still being able to have plenty of room on the aft deck or open the windshield hatch to get on the bow to get every angle. Large sliding windows on the starboard and port side provide access to the action right from your seat. There are suspension front seats and two large bench seats to accommodate a total of 5 passengers and captain. There is a porta-potty toilet when needed with privacy curtain.
The boat is equipped with state-of-the-art electronics such as a radar system designed for marine navigation and collision avoidance. The chart plotter GPS system will easily navigate the hundreds of coves and outcroppings we will encounter. We have multiple Sonar depth finder units that help us keep track of the depth of the ocean floor and what may lurk beneath the surface.
Our Marine radio keeps us in contact with other whale watching boats to assure we are not missing out on any of the action and the Coast Guard for safety if an emergency should arise.
In addition to the main engine we have a kicker motor as a backup engine and we have a unique addition of an automatic deploying electric motor on the bow to assist when we are near sensitive wildlife. The bow mount motor has a spot lock anchor system that works by GPS to silently hold the boat in a specific location and it’s ability to make micro adjustments allows the best position for photography.
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FAQ's
Find the answer to the most common questions we get about our charters.
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Gear Up!
Find out the best gear to bring on your private charter trip.
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Conservation Efforts
Learn how Closer to the Wild adheres to responsible practices to ensure minimal disturbance to whale populations and their habitats while promoting sustainable tourism.
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What's Out There?
What can you expect to see on the various charters and species of wildlife?
