Dive Channel Islands National Park, California

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Channel Islands National Park in California has excellent snorkeling and diving in the cool waters surrounding the Islands. The underwater visibility is usually very good and the water is teeming with life since many of the islands are located within a marine reserve. On Santa Cruz island has a varity of enviroments from sandy bays known for excellent halibut hunting to vast rocky reefs covered with kelp to mini walls. The easiest kelp beds to access are the ones near the pier and those to the eastern end of of the bay. Beach access is also available at Prisoners Harbor and by hiking over to Smugglers Cove, but the snorkeling is not as good at these locations. Scorpion Anchorage is also home to the wreck of the USS Peacock (now identifed as the Spirit of Amercia), a 100′ long wood hulled WW-II minesweeper which is in great shape resting upright on a sheltered 60′ sandy bottom. Santa Barbara Island is an ideal place for diving and snorkeling. Since Santa Barbara Island is a cliff island, access to the water is only at the Landing Cove via a dock. There are no other accessible beaches unless you have a boat. Anacapa is a cliff island with access to the water is only at the Landing Cove on East Anacapa via a dock (unless you have a boat). Most dives are next to the island in depths from a few feet to about 60 feet. The bottom is rocky reef and sand in most places with a few kelp forests, walls, and pinnacles. Some of the best sites are Coral Reef, Landing Cove, Cathedral Cove, Underwater Arch, Aquarium, Guana Banks, Rat Rock and the West End. On San Miguel and Santa Rosa Islands there are strong, persistent wind which makes snorkeling and diving limited and recommended for the experienced visitor only. The best time of the year weather wise is normally at the end of summer. Visibility rarely goes below 10 feet and can be as high as 100 feet on the islands with an average of 40 feet most days.

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