California's Channel Islands offer great snorkeling spots. These islands host many aquatic species, including California sea Lions, harbor Seals, Leopard Sharks, as well as other animals like leopard sharks. You can also see these animals in the Santa Cruz Channel Islands. You can see sea lions, other marine animals, and giant goldfish called Garibaldi.
Anacapa Island
Anacapa Island is located just off the California coast. This island is home to an array of wildlife and is a great place for snorkeling. The ferry from Ventura and Island Packers will take you to Anacapa. If you are going on your first trip to the Channel Islands, the National Park Service recommends visiting Anacapa Island. This island is home of a historic lighthouse that offers incredible opportunities to see wildlife.
Anacapa was hit by a WWII torpedo plane in the 1950s while it was on a training mission. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt. The plane can still be seen floating in the water about 120 feet below. You can snorkel at this site and you'll see sea lions and other marine creatures. Although visibility is usually 20-60 feet, conditions are often poor at this location.
Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island is home to a variety of marine species that can be seen through its crystal-clear waters. The island is home to many marine species including turtles, sharks, and even elephant seals. Five miles of hiking trails provide breathtaking ocean views. The island is a cliff-shaped island but the water is still warm enough to swim and snorkel. Visitors should be prepared for the strong winds that can occur on the island.
The Channel Islands house a remarkable array of marine species. You will often see leopard sharks, California sea-lions, harbor seals and other marine species. The underwater world is beautiful because kelp forests are home to over 800 species of marine life. Two currents support these unique ecosystems: the California Current as well as the Davidson Countercurrent. This confluence allows for an amazing variety of marine life.
Gull Island
One of the best snorkeling destinations in California is Gull Island. This small rock island is only about a mile offshore and is a Marine Protected Area. It offers great diving with visibility and depths between 20' and 110'. You'll find plenty of invertebrates, purple hydrocoral, and rocky reefs under the seafloor. The wreckage of the Guardian plane can be viewed close by.
Gull Island is home to eleven species of nesting shorebirds as well as seabirds. In fact, the Channel Islands are home to 99 percent of the Southern California shorebird population. Their isolation provides ideal nesting habitats without predators or human disturbance.
Santa Barbara Island
If you enjoy snorkeling or diving, Santa Barbara Island is a great place to visit. It is home to kelp forests and underwater arches as well as rocky reefs. The island's diverse ecosystem supports many kinds of marine life including schools of fish, gorgonians and invertebrates. You will find many great dive spots on the island, some of them popular with professionals.
Santa Barbara Island, a 1-square-mile island, is part of Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. It's located about 55 miles north of Ventura, and 48 miles southwest from Catalina Island. It is popular for its variety of marine life and clear waters.
Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island, an island channel in the Pacific Ocean, is popular for snorkeling and diving. The southeast part of the island features large reefs and kelp beds. The reefs are of different types, including low-lying rocky reefs and large rocky outcroppings with mini walls. Because of this structure, they support a wide variety of marine life, including many fish and lobster. Invertebrates can also be found here, such as gorgonians.
The water temperature is generally warm and pleasant during the summer months, but it can be chilly in the winter months. Layers are recommended, as well as a light sweater or jacket. They have warm water throughout most of the year but can also get some rain.