Check the latest prices on Los Angeles’ accommodations here. The Channel Islands are eight islands off the coast of California around L.A. Anacapa, which consists of three small islets, is roughly 11 miles off the coast. Diving in the giant kelp forests of California is one the world’s top diving experiences. Diving through the California kelp forests was incredible. It has a great central location, a nice garden, breakfast and free parking. It’s a one-bedroom cottage with a patio and pool. was an added bonus! You have to be precise when you enter to prevent you from becoming tangled. They are located approximately 14 miles/ 22.5 km south of Ventura, California and boats usually leave from Ventura Harbor. And of course, my encounter with a harbor seal (or was it a sea lion? They have shore dives and boat dives. There's a variety of diving: shallow reefs, deep kelp beds, walls, pinnacles, caves and sandy coves with the state's largest variety of sea stars. Book A Dive Tour. Summer is obviously the warmest and from mid-July to late October, the surface water temperature is over 70°F / 21°C. We are fortunate to live close to a unique marine environment: The Kelp forests of Southern California. Boat diving the wrecks will hard to forget. It's calm at this site — unless the wind and swell picks up — and divers are practically guaranteed encounters with playful harbor seals here because they breed and live in a nearby rookery. To experience the kelp forest and California diving at its best, consider an all-day boat trip to the nearby Coronado Islands, or a live-aboard adventure to the Southern Channel Islands, where the water visibility can exceed 100 feet and the animal life always seems to be wilder and woolier. Big Sur The Channel Islands … Right on front of my nose, looking into my mask, was a playful harbor seal. Buy the BigBlue dive flashlight here. Discover what a five-star underwater experience is like at this Mexico divers’ paradise. Click here for the schedule of the Catalina Express ferry to/ from Catalina Island. ZOOM MEETING Have you ever wondered about West Coast diving? However, the best underwater visibility in the Channel Islands is between July and January and sometimes into February. Santa Catalina (usually just called Catalina Island) is the only one of the eight islands with human settlements. I’d love to hear them. It is almost impossible to get around without a car. It's awesome." Catalina Island. Travel to Cuba is still open and legal…. Even after 500+ dives in these temperate waters, there always seems to be something new to witness every time I dip beneath the waves. An Introductory Scuba Dive is an orientation to scuba diving that allows those who don’t have dive certification to experience diving in the ocean. All rights reserved. These eight dive sites and regions throughout the U.S. and Canada are a reason to get excited about diving local for years to come. Scuba Diving may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. In some areas, depths can ramp up to 300 feet just a few hundred yards from shore. Check the latest prices on Los Angeles’ accommodations here. Malibu Divers: Kelp Forest Diving Trip - See 37 traveler reviews, 31 candid photos, and great deals for Malibu, CA, at Tripadvisor. The United States has some incredible diving, including diving with manta rays in Hawaii. I focus on doing activities and having experiences that give me meaningful and active interaction with the local culture, people and environment when I travel, and I can help you do the same. The trips from Santa Barbra and from Catalina Island take up more than a day. Please accept cookies for optimal performance. At the nation’s first nonprofit park under the sea, the Avalon Underwater Dive Park is … #divecatalina #diveanacapa #kelpdiving #channelislands #divela #experientialtravel #travelcollecting #diving #scuba #california I like to travel light without a whole bag of dive gear, because this was just on part of a bigger trip. While the kelp is undeniably beautiful and a swim through a kelp forest is certain to be an unforgettable experience, diving in a kelp bed provides far more than just an opportunity to look at kelp. Monterey Bay California offers a world-class scuba diving experience. If you are on a holiday around here, try something different and go fun diving in a kelp forest! The Northern Channel Islands are comprised of a group of four small islands —Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa and San Miguel — within the portion of the Santa Barbara Channel designated as the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary, which also includes Santa Barbara. These magical underwater gardens are home to the majority of the coastal marine life. Of course there was lunch in between and a weary but extremely satisfied James on the way back. There are actually lots of fun things to do on Catalina in addition to diving, including a zip line, a food tour and a bison tour. Jade Cove is actually not one but a series of coves at the edge of Los Padres National Forest, 65 miles south of Monterey. I could do it one day. Encounters with sea lions and harbor seals are common. You need to board before midnight and sleep onboard. It looked at me, then turned and darted away, almost immediately disappearing into the kelp. Diving in the giant kelp forests of California is one the world’s top diving experiences. I did the trip to Anacapa rather than Catalina only because this was the trip running on the day I had available. Planning and packing for diving at the Channel Islands off the coast off L.A. Additional consideration: Travel Insurance, Guide to Channel Islands SCUBA Diving California, Check out all of the fun Catalina expediences here, underwater photography course at Catalina Island: book here. A PADI Worldwide Company. Entanglement is the fear of most new kelp divers—an unfounded fear. I was very comfortable with my Scubapro booties. There are two towns on the island and both have ferries – Avalon and Two Harbors. We can’t possibly write about them all, but here are five amazing places in California to dive in kelp. These include Catalina Island, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey Bay. Diving through La Jolla’s magical giant kelp forests looking for the elusive sharks. I rented wetsuit, hood, gloves, BCD and dive computer from the dive shop, but of course, if you have gear and want to bring it, your own gear is always most comfortable. There are several operators. Divers can visit coves acting as sea lion rookeries, walls, seagrass beds, caves and swim-throughs, rocky patches filled with bristle stars, sea mounds and pinnacles, and much more. It was a revelation. A bright orange fish swam past. The Anacapa Islands are beautiful – jutting straight out of the ocean, and I was excited as we approached them. California’s temperate waters are among the best in the world for kelp diving. Hollywood – Dana Point: 1 hour 20 minutes, Hollywood – Ventura Harbor: 1 hour 10 minutes, Hollywood – Santa Barbara: 1 hour 50 minutes. There wasn’t much marine life other than the kelp, but I was in heaven. If you are traveling to the US from abroad, I recommend my North America Travel Guide for lots of extra information and practical tips. The 3-dive trip leaves at 3:00am from Santa Barbara. Annual Coral Bleaching Likely This Century, Says UNEP Report, Florida Holiday Display Made Entirely of Single-Use Plastics and Recycled Materials, $600 OFF ALL STAR AVALON II TO CUBA's GARDENS OF THE QUEEN, Eight Reasons to Get Excited about North American Diving, Dive Nonprofit Raises Over $20,000 for DAN’s Post-COVID Scuba Study, 7-Night Baja Sur Diving Package in Loreto, Mexico. “The Paris Agreement is a great start, but it's something we need to go further than that if we want to have healthy and vibrant coral reefs in the future.”. Kelp doesn’t always grow to the water’s surface, so openings can often be deceiving. The boats for the most northern Channel Islands usually leave from Santa Barbara. But that was before coming to California eight years ago and diving its giant kelp forests. Two distinct currents meet up at these islands producing and abundance of life both above and below the surface with three distinct marine zones. Exploring the underwater walls off Boomers, a playground for cute harbor seals. It is world-renowned for its clear waters and plentiful kelp forests that make diving Catalina one for the bucket list. So it's no suprise that underwater, Big Sur is a wild paradise of steep marine terraces and hidden coves. Shore dives are at the Avalon Dive Park daily at 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:00pm, and 2:00pm (2 hours each dive) The price of $115 per person or $135 for a private experience includes all equipment. Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/421 Blue Holic SCUBA also has a monthly trip to Anacapa/ Santa Cruz, also leaving from Ventura Harbor.  Prices were not available on their website. Bat rays and angel sharks are often found in the sand near the kelp; octopi and moray eels can often be found in crevices; horn sharks & leopard sharks are not uncommon; sea fans & anemones are common; harbor seals are also common in shallow water in the kelp, and bright orange garibaldi, blue-banded gobies, and sheepshead are all around, as are nudibranchs. Two great choices of places to stay in L.A. are: Selby Ave Guest House has a perfect rating of 10 on Booking.com! Buy the Los Angeles/ southern California Lonely Planet here. The Pacific Ocean is home to all kinds of natural wonders, and the best way to see them close-up is by taking a scuba or snorkel trip. Giant kelp forests are all around Catalina Island. I actually take my dive flashlight with when I travel even when I’m not planning on diving – you never now when a waterproof flashlight will come in handy. The booties that you have to wear also keep your feet warm. They are actually the closest of the eight Channel Islands to shore (when reached from Ventura Harbor) and it only took about 1.25 hours to get there. I had wanted to go on a SCUBA diving trip in California ever since I’d first read about the giant kelp forests, so when we planned a trip to southern California, it was on my list of things to do. April to June there are often plankton blooms and green water, with visibility of about 20 feet/ 6 meters. I use the Internet a lot to plan – and I hope this blog is useful resource for you – but I also always use a guidebook as a supplement. You can cook if you want to save money. I usually just lie there on the bottom and look up at the sunlight. California’s Channel islands is known for its kelp forests, its a beautiful oasis in the sea. Anacapa Island actually consists of three smaller islets, East, Middle, and West Anacapa Islands. THE INSPIRATION: Channel Islands SCUBA diving, California, The verdict: Kelp forest California diving, TC ‘experiential travel’ score: Channel Islands Diving, PRACTICAL TIPS: Channel Islands SCUBA Diving and Los Angeles, The Channel Islands and Channel Islands National Park. The Aqualung Mask did away with this, so I LOVE it. Boomers’ Giant Kelp Forest. The best part is if you come to a dead end, unlike rock swim throughs, you can just push your way though, making your own path. I like Tusa Imprex fins. You can book it here or get a quote for your trip right here: Do you have any dive stories to share ? Cynthia Catton was among the first marine scientists to witness the collapse of Northern California’s bull kelp forests, a decline that resulted in vast barren areas on the seafloor, piles of empty abalone shells, and the closure of abalone and red urchin fisheries and, finally, of the North Coast’s last diving … With its plentiful kelp beds, seal and sea lion rookeries, nutrient-rich waters, colorful anemones and quality deep dives, Monterey is considered California's best cold-water diving, courtesy of the 10,663-foot-deep Monterey Bay Submarine Canyon. Cuba’s pristine Gardens of the Queen is a place where divers can experience sharks galore, snorkeling with crocodiles and the magic of discovery. Here, below the sea cliffs, is one of California’s most diverse underwater ecosystems, the giant kelp forest. Our scuba diving service project involves diving in at least two areas: the calm waters in Monterey Harbor, which are teeming with invertebrates, and the protected … Their boat dives are Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Prices for boat dives from Catalina is $107 for 2 dives (gear NOT included) and $85 for snorkelers (includes gear). In Avalon, there is shore diving from Casino Point at Casino Point Underwater Park/ Avalon Dive Park. Check out all of the fun Catalina expediences here. Kelp forests make California diving special. Kelp clings to the 10- to 20-foot-high, round boulders scattered about. First, let me start by saying that diving in kelp is not dangerous, but it does present its hazards —hazards that can be easily overcome. Enjoy the Introductory Scuba Dive in the Casino Point Dive Park, one of few underwater parks in the world, and marvel at the complex marine environment found in the kelp forests. Today, these prized dive areas stretch 150 miles (240 km) along the Pacific coast, offering marine habitats found nowhere else in the world. Lover’s Point, Pacific Grove. Probably the two most famous islands are Catalina Island and Anacapa Island. If you are looking for new fins, buy the Tusa Imprex fins here. The southeastern waters of Santa Catalina Island first earned its diving fame as the location for the TV show Sea Hunt and was once the posh, exclusive weekend playground of Hollywood's rich and famous. Dive into Big Adventure with a Small Town Feel in Baja Sur’s Loreto, Mexico. There is no shortage of things to see on Catalina Island dives. When you’re ready to start planning your trip, take the stress out of it by referring to my Travel Planner for a step-by-step guide. You should NEVER dive in kelp without you and your buddy having a knife. This is the trip I did and I was extremely happy with their service. Kelp diving in the Channel Islands in California. Recreational divers now know it for its magnificent kelp forests, creating a magical Jack and the Beanstalk atmosphere with plentiful populations of lobster and garibaldi, the bright orange state fish, which enjoys protected status. Golden seaweed stretched from the seafloor a couple of meters below me way up to the surface far above me. Buy the Scuba Pro (unisex, 5mm) booties here. Kelp forest diving in the La Jolla Cove Ecological Reserve or Scuba Diving and Snorkeling its Sea Cave and La Jolla Point are always exciting. I prefer open-heeled fins, as they are easier to get on and off. The southern Channel Islands have the clearest water, with visibility up to 80 feet (24 meters) of visibility. The five northern Channel Islands (San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa, and Santa Barbara Islands) make up the Channel Islands National Park. It was everything I had imagined! Traffic in LA is notorious for being terrible, so factor in additional time just in case. Los Angeles’ airport is LAX. Check out visa requirements for the United States here. So, when is the best time to dive the Channel Islands? When descending, don’t step straight off the boat; you must look for an opening and always look down before you descend. The basic essentials for this trip are: It’s possible to rent mask and fins, but they typically suck, so I try to bring my own with me if at all possible. Its clear, blue waters seem almost tropical compared to colder, murkier waters up north. scubadiving.com is part of PADI Media, a division of PADI Worldwide. It fits great – I have a high bridge over my nose and used to get headaches from ill-fitting masks. I actually got a knife specifically for this dive. It costs $140 for 3 dives (gear not included, but can be rented at their dive shop) for Anacapa and/ or Santa Cruz.  You can check out their trip schedule here. By submitting above, you agree to Scuba Diving's privacy policy. I like the BigBlue dive torch – it’s small but fairly powerful. Divers who are willing to brave cold water diving in the frigid Northern California waters will be rewarded with up-close encounters with marine mammals, such as sea lions, seals, and sea otters, as well as many rockfish and aquatic … Seven of the islands are nature reserves. When the waters are coolest, in the high 50s and low 60s as they are in late spring and early summer, a host of invertebrates like nudibranchs, cowries, sea cucumbers, urchins and sea stars hangs out in relatively shallow waters before retreating to colder and deeper climes in late summer. Great fun! Diving in the kelp forests of Southern California never ceases to amaze me. I dived in November and visibility was good. A great insurance option is World Nomads. The Octopus Garden is an educational holiday light display perfect for the ocean lover in your life. It was awesome! However, diving Channel Islands National Park isn’t necessarily any better – the California giant kelp forest extends throughout all of the Channel Islands and is common all around Catalina. Whether you are a new or experienced diver, Waterhorse Charters will safely take you to the most awe-inspiring sites for scuba diving in San Diego. Blue Holic SCUBA also has one or two trips/ month to San Miguel / Santa Rosa Island. Buy the Los Angeles/ southern California Lonely Planet here, Buy the Scuba Pro (unisex, 5mm) booties here, 6 Must Have New York Food Experiences: FUN FOOD CRAZES FROM NEW YORK CITY, The Best Hikes in Bryce Canyon National Park: HIKING THE HOODOOS, Quality of interaction with culture/ environment. Where are the Channel Islands and what is the currency? What its like to dance with seal lions and swim in giant forests of kelp? Sign up for Scuba Diving’s weekly email and never miss another story. Only a short drive south from Monterey, Big Sur is just remote enough to remain unspoiled. Cold water diving in kelp forest with Bluewater... Scuba Diving trip to Channel Islands National Park, California. They are really cool. Read more diving/ snorkeling experiences: James Ian has traveled to 82 countries and all 7 continents. Another great dive to end the day. But between 2014 and 2016, a … Several of the world’s most famous kelp dives line the California coast. Diving in kelp forests is very different to open water diving. Read my Disclaimer for more information. The sanctuary, set aside in 1980 to protect the area's rich biodiversity, is one of California's great marine treasures. Scuba diving below towering sea cliffs with the energetic sea lions. NOTE: These times are approximate and are for early morning, so traffic is light. The Garibaldi fishand a plethora of colorful sea sta… Welcome to Travel Collecting. Diving San Miguel Island and/or Santa Rosa Island, The best choice for Channel Islands diving, Best time of year for Channel Islands SCUBA diving, The major dive sites in the Channel Islands, California. If you specially want to go SCUBA diving in Channel Islands National Park, then options 3 and 4 are for you, because Catalina is outside the national park. Rent a car here. The other three (the southern Channel Islands) are Santa Catalina, San Clemente and San Nicolas Islands. Central California's Big Sur region is a place of rugged beauty, a coastline dominated by the tree-covered peaks of the Santa Lucia Mountains. He is passionate about experiential travel, i.e. Torqua Springs, Catalina It strange to think of L.A. and diving together, but actually kelp diving in California is one of the top dive experiences in the world. The currency is the U.S. dollar (USD). How cool was this?! If you liked this post, please share the love and Pin it to your Diving board for later! I use cookies to analyze my traffic, which helps ensure that I give you the best experience on my website. DIVE CALIFORNIA is owned and operated by German native Michael Timm and offers services such as guided SCUBA & Snorkel-Tours as well as a variety of Scuba & Freediving courses through PADI & SSI. I’ve spent my life traveling – 82 countries and 7 continents so far. At Whalers Cove, a jungle of kelp ribbons is rooted in a rocky bottom substrate. Boats for Anacapa Island SCUBA diving and Santa Cruz usually leave from Ventura Harbor north of LA. With typically excellent visibility, you won’t have to dive very deep to see … I was soon lost in a forest of seaweed, with just my dive buddy beside me. There was also plenty of other fish swimming around. , underwater world plentiful kelp forests that make diving Catalina Island dives techniques to make my way them... Actually got a knife specifically for this dive before the dive sea cliffs with energetic! 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