The Kasitsna Bay Laboratory is a research laboratory that provides a unique resource for marine research and teaching. It is an independent, nonprofit research facility dedicated to excellence in marine science and education near Homer, Alaska in Seldovia. The NOAA owned Laboratory is hosted by the University of Alaska Fairbanks and NOAA as a place where people can learn about subtidal, intertidal, seagrass, and terrestrial communities, and scientific diving, and is a host to any ecosystem one could imagine. Many different types of habitats can be explored with many types of organisms.

The Kasitsna Bay Lab can acommodate one person to large classes. The following are available: dry laboratories with microscopes, wet lab with running seawater, sleeping facilites, cascade air compressor, SCUBA tanks and weight belts, 26' boat w/ operator, 21' whaler w/ operator, rubber skiffs, dock, pickups.

A wide variety of research projects are carried out at the Kasitsna Bay Lab by visitng scientists and students. The lab has various sized boats for access to the ocean, along with a full SCUBA facility. The area around the lab has one of the largest tidal ranges (approx 10m) for great intertidal access. For a current research list and a full pulication list, please see our web page.

Current courses taught at the Kasitsna Bay Lab include Scientific Diving (spring), Field Methods in Subtidal Ecology (spring), Marine Biology and Ecology Field Course (summer), Cold Water Diving (summer), and Kelp Forest Ecology (summer).

The Kasitsna Bay Lab is located across Kachemak Bay from Homer. The nearest town is Seldovia. Water taxis can be used to access the lab from Homer.

David Christie, Director
School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks AK 99775-7220
Phone: (907) 474-7836 Fax: (907) 474-5804
Internet: dchristie@guru.uaf.edu