Diving at Channel Islands National Park

Some of the finest and most unique dive sites in the world are found beneath the waters surrounding the five islands of Channel Islands National Park. Above — and below — the water the Park more than lives up to its nickname “the Galápagos of North America.” But honestly, the nickname undersells the Channel Islands — and their diving opportunities. To fin through a swaying kelp forest, the waving strands reaching up to a sunlit surface and blue skies, is to know a peace — and thrill – like no other.

Giant kelp forests support the islands’ marine ecosystems and are home to over 800 species of marine life. The colder and nutrient-rich California Current flowing from the north surrounds the outer islands of San Miguel and Santa Rosa, while the Davidson Countercurrent flowing from the south runs along Santa Cruz and Anacapa Islands. It’s the confluence of these two currents that allow for such a stunning diversity of marine life. Everything from sea anemones to Blue Whales, the largest animal on Earth, can be found here. Fun cocktail conversation. A Blue Whale’s tongue is the size of an African elephant.

Divers can expect to find rocks covered in colorful bouquets of sea anemones, starfish, and garlands of hydrocoral, sponges, and sea fans. Tucked away in rock fissures and crevices, are moray eels, octopus, abalone, rock scallops, California spiny lobsters, and a host of other sea creatures. Giant black sea bass (some weighing in at 500 pounds), halibut, lingcod, vermilion rockfish, calico bass, and bat rays are other familiar sights, not to mention California’s very own state fish, the sometimes pugnacious (I’m protected!) Garibaldi. Seals and sea lions perform graceful pirouettes in the water column and pods of dolphins slice through the open ocean waters.

Though it has suffered impacts at man’s hand, it is still largely a marine Eden, each island offering its own unique show.

Diving at Santa Cruz Island

Santa Cruz Island sits on a transition zone between warm south currents and cooler north currents, allowing for dive sites rich with diverse marine life. Gull Island is a popular dive near Santa Cruz Island filled with large California sheephead, lobsters and purple urchin tucked into crevices on the reefs, and various colorful sea stars including bat stars, giant spined stars, and bright blood stars. Yellow Banks offers large kelp beds that stretch along the side of the island. Close to shore, the kelp beds are filled with giant brown kelp, but as divers reach depths of 80-90 feet, kelp beds are mainly made up of bullwhip kelp meaning water temperatures are much cooler. This current transition zone makes for great drift diving.

The island is also home to a very extensive system of underwater caves and caverns some of which, like Diablo Anchorage at Diablo Point Cave, make for popular dives. The island offers lots of anchorages and coves protected from the wind and weather. Dive sites around Santa Cruz Island vary from sandy bays to rocky reefs, and are excellent opportunities for beginner to moderate skilled divers.

Diving at San Miguel Island

This northernmost Channel Island has cool nutrient-rich waters fed by the Humboldt and Davidson currents from the north that fuel kelp growth of up to two feet per day! San Miguel Island is home to a great abundance of marine life with thick giant kelp beds and easily spotted California sheephead, black sea bass, bat rays, moray eels, and colorful sea anemones.

Point Bennett on the western tip of San Miguel Island is a popular dive site often visited by California and Steller sea lions, northern and Guadalupe fur seals, and harbor and northern elephant seals, from their nearby breeding grounds. This spot offers great visibility year-round even for 30 to 50 foot dives. Wyckoff Ledge is another popular site protected from currents and home to wolf eels, mosshead warbonnets, and lots of nudibranchs. Judith Rock and Richardson Rock are also beautiful pinnacles and great dive sites for advanced divers who can handle stronger currents and deep dives.

The best spot to view California hydrocoral, a true coral endemic to California, is Wilson’s Rock two miles to the northwest of San Miguel Island, where colorful sea anemones, nudibranchs, and sea stars decorate reefs in vibrant colors and diversity. Advanced divers can enjoy deep dives and visibility exceeding 100 feet on good days.

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