This island chain off the coast of Southern California includes from east to west Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, and San Miguel. Here the warmer currents from the south meet the colder, nutrient rich waters from the north. The resulting mix supports kelp forests, marine mammals, and endless varieties of fish and plants. Divers who explore the waters of the world return to these islands for their extreme diversity and the certainty that no two dives will be quite the same. With visibility averaging forty feet and often much greater, hundreds of miles of shoreline, and large well equipped boats offering dives all year, a channel Islands trip should be on every divers schedule.
Exit is from large stern mounted swim-steps.
Most dives are next to the island in depths from a few feet to about 60 feet. It is possible to do deeper dives but not required. The boats stay anchored during the dive using both a bow anchor in front and a stern anchor behind. Each dive lasts about an hour or less depending on the divers air consumption. There are typically three or four dives per day.