Page 127 - California Diving and Surfing

ormally fewer than 200 public visitors can develop without notice. Bathers, divers ing for rock fish and halibut plus some of
and kayakers should be aware and alert the best macro photography opportunities
N set foot on San Miguel Island during a
given year. Currently the island is closed to to the occurrence of great white sharks in at San Miguel.

tourism by the Navy to survey for unexplod- these waters. It is unwise to enter the water S an Miguel is about eight miles long and
ed ordnance leftover from the time that the in early morning or late afternoon to early four miles wide. It is primarily a plateau
island was used as a bombing site. Visitors evening hours when sharks are feeding

are transported to the island by boat. Island close to shore. An urchin diver was killed by about 500 feet in elevation, to two 800 foot

Packers is the only authorized concession- a great white shark in 1994 off San Miguel rounded hills emerge from its wild, wind-

aire to the island, however private boaters Island. swept landscape. One of the most spectac-

are allowed to anchor off shore. S an Miguel is very exposed, making ular wildlife displays in the park is viewing
conditions for underwater photography the thousands of seals and sea lions that
E ight-foot seas are not uncommon in the very difficult. However, the macro pho- breed on its isolated shores. Fifty-five miles
Pacific between Santa Rosa Island and off the coast from Ventura, San Miguel

San Miguel Island. Visitors to the island are tography here can be excellent and very Island is the farthest west of the Channel

restricted to ocean access at Cuyler Harbor. colorful, if a little bit surgy. The western Islands. Because of its location in the open

This landing is well protected from the most of the Northern Channel Islands is ocean, it is subject to high winds and lots

strong ocean swell that is driven from the San Miguel. San Miguel is influenced by of fog. Home to large lobsters, elephant

northwest. Cuyler has a sandy beach and the cooler, nutrient rich California current seals, sharks, wolf eels, large lingcod and

visitors will often find themselves sharing which results in cool water temperatures other amazing creatures. Point Bennett is

the beach with elephant seals. The water (55-60 F.) and marine life typical to what also the site of the wreck of the Cuba and

is generally below 60 °F (16 °C), making it you would expect to find in the central Cali- several other wrecks. The undersea marine

cold without a wetsuit. During low tides fornia coastline. Here you may see wolfeels, life features, fish and invertebrates common

the harbor offers a tide pool area at the halibut and very lush invertebrates and only north of Point Conception.

east end of the beach. Sea kayaking is not nudibranchs. A favorite dive site is Wilson

recommended for the novice as high winds Rock, a remote pinnacle offering great gam-