Avacha Bay is one of the largest natural harbours in the world — around 215 km² in area and up to 26 metres deep. The world's entire fleet could anchor here at once. For a guest, it is above all the gateway to the open ocean.
Three Brothers and the open sea
Three sea stacks — the Three Brothers — stand at the mouth of the bay, the symbol of Petropavlovsk. Right beyond them is the Pacific. Tour boats run year round; in summer — to Starichkov Island.
Starichkov Island
A nature monument 25 km from the city. Tufted puffins, horned puffins, cormorants and kittiwakes nest here. Steller sea lions and seals haul out on the rocks. Landing is forbidden, but boats come right alongside.
Orcas and grey whales
From June to September orca families enter the gulf, joined sometimes by humpbacks and grey whales. Whale-watching tours run for 6–8 hours; in season the chance of a sighting is close to 100%.
Fishing
Halibut, cod, greenling and flounder are the targets. Depths of 60–120 m begin right beyond the Three Brothers. Halibut is the main trophy — 20–40 kg fish are the rule rather than the exception.