Special
Know-How
Away from
the beaches and protected coves, the ocean currents can
be very strong. High winds and swell usually come from the
southwest and get stronger throughout the day—plan
your dive accordingly.
Water temps
range from the low 50s to high 60s. A full wetsuit and a
hood are recommended year-round.
The
Best Underwater Adventures ...
Anacapa
The Channels, 10 to 30 ft.
The famous kelp forests surrounding Anacapa and some of
the other islands grow so thick in parts that swimming through
them is a challenge. At this West Anacapa site it's just
dense enough that you can experience the abundant underwater
plant life without getting tangled. A shallow reef system,
accessible to both divers and snorkelers, branches out from
shore. Anemones and sea sponges are two reasons to bring
your underwater camera.
Santa
Cruz
Scorpion Anchorage Shipwreck, 40 to 70ft.
In the 20-plus years that this wood-hulled, WWII minesweeper
has been sitting on the sandy ocean floor, quite a bit of
marine life has managed to accumulate in its 100-ft.-long
remains. Among them, barnacles, tunicates, sea stars and
bryozoans, to name a few. The calm water of Santa Cruz'
northeast shore makes the dive relatively easy, but the
depth makes it a poor choice for snorkelers.
Santa
Rosa
Talcott Shoal, 20 to 90 ft.
The northwest shore of Santa Rosa Island is the place to
go big-fish watching. How big? Basking sharks up to 40 ft.
long have been spotted in the vicinity, not to mention great
whites (FYI, there's only been one fatal attack on a Channel
Islands diver in the last decade, just off San Miguel--you're
more than ten times as likely to be hit by lightning). This
is a shelf dive, with levels that drop off sharply as you
go farther from shore. For the best viewing, follow a ridge
line.
Santa
Barbara
Landing Cove, 0 to 20 ft.
Within easy swimming distance of the Landing Cove beach,
snorkelers can get great views of sea urchins, sea stars
and shimmering schools of garibaldi fish that hover close
to shore. You can also expect occasional visits from playful
California sea lions that swim up from the Southeast Sea
Lion Rookery. This island is only one square mile in size,
but its shoreline is packed with sea life.
San
Miguel
Point Bennett, 30 to 80 ft.
About half the world's population of elephant seals breeds
on San Miguel. Most of them, along with thousands of California
sea lions, call Point Bennett their home. This is one of
the least-dived spots in the Channel Islands, due to the
fact that wind, rough water and fog can make it extremely
tricky to navigate. But if you're an experienced diver willing
to brave the swell (and the lower visibility that comes
with it), you could enjoy a private party with the pinnipeds.
Dive
Boats
Oxnard
Covenant: 805-732-0597, www.covenantdivecharters.com
Ventura
Liberty: 805-642-6655, www.calboatdiving.com
Spectre: 805-483-6612, www.calboatdiving.com
Peace: 805-984-2025, www.peaceboat.com
Santa Barbara
Truth/Conception/Vision: 805-962-1127, www.truthaquatics.com
Long Beach
Encore: 310-541-1025, www.encorediveboat.com
Sundiver: 800-555-9446, www.sundiver.net
