By Natalie Speck
My husband and I just returned from three days snorkeling Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park in California. Access to the island is by boat through Island Packers, based in Ventura Harbor. On the crossing to the island from mainland California, we saw both common and bottlenose dolphins, and apparently it’s also common to see several types of whales including blue, humpback, and a few others.
Best Time of Year for Snorkeling Santa Cruz Island
We chose to go in August as this is one of the best months for calm seas and visibility, and the conditions did not disappoint! We did four beach snorkels total, all from the Scorpion Anchorage beach. Water conditions were best at 7am. That time was also ideal for observing large schools of opaleye, top smelt, and a variety of perch during their feeding hours.
California sheephead, including several at their max size of three feet, were plentiful, as were garibaldi, rock wrasse, señoritas, and kelp bass. The health and diversity of the kelp forest itself was pristine. Coralline algae of several types in abundance with many invertebrates including tube worms, bryozoans, Spanish shawl nudibranchs, moon snails, and turban snails. In the sandy bottom areas between kelp beds, we observed bat rays, halibut, pyrosomes, sea butterfly, and a number of other cnidarians and colonial tunicates.
What We Wore
Our 4/3 wetsuits were plenty warm to stay in the water for a solid hour, and the cobblestone beach warms up nicely with the morning sun to get your body temp back up while you drink a cup of coffee 🙂 I wore 3mm dive socks, and my husband was comfortable with fins alone, without booties or socks.
About Santa Cruz Island and Safety
Worthy of mention is that camping is the only accommodation to stay on the island, with one potable water spigot and pit toilets. Island Packers has a limit of 60 pounds of gear per person (which includes all your food), so there are some logistics involved in packing.
There is a ranger or two on the island and many day visitors (most of whom are going on guided kayak tours or hiking), but during the early morning snorkels we were all alone in the quiet calm ocean—and also four hours minimum away from any rescue or medical care. The Coast Guard and National Park Service can provide rescue services in an emergency, but there are only one or two rangers on the island at any time. Their housing is located approx 3/4 mile uphill from the anchorage, and they are generally preoccupied with the 100-200 daytime visitors, so keep in mind that you really are responsible for your own safety here.
If you are comfortable with “rustic” conditions and a more remote location, the biological diversity and ecologic health of Santa Cruz Island is highly worth the trip! We will certainly be snorkeling Santa Cruz Island again next year.
Hi Natalie, thanks so much for sharing your helpful story about snorkeling Santa Cruz Island with us and our readers! There is another old post on the site about snorkeling the Channel Islands.