Kelp grows thick here, with fronds, providing habitat for small anemones, kelp crabs and moon snails. In open water outside of the kelp bed, divers may encounter schools of barracuda, white sea bass or a California gray whale. Consistent action can be found in the open ocean between Anacapa and Santa Cruz Islands at Footprint Reef, where the shallowest point crests at 300 feet. Dive boats lay out a chum line of mackerel, squid and other shark bait. After half an hour, blue sharks and makos slowly start to appear.
Sharks swim right up to the cage, often nibbling on the buoys and float compartments.
Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island, Channel Islands Anacapa Island is actually three islets. Since it's a quick trip from the mainland, scuba classes often visit. Yet despite the occasionally heavy boat traffic, Anacapa always has surprises. East, Middle and West Anacapa, the three islets that form the group, are home to a plethora of great sites. The most striking of these is the archway at land's end on East Anacapa, which has become the icon of the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.