Page 163 - California Diving and Surfing

nacapa is a short boat trip from caves. At the east end of Anacapa a natural For someone who has never dived in a kelp
bridge has formed in the ocean. Forty-foot forest, this can be quite spectacular. It gives
A Ventura and Oxnard, and day trips run
often. Visibility is usually 30-50ft, the island high Arch Rock is a trademark of Anacapa you the sense of being in an underwater

is quite protected, and the reefs have more and Channel Islands National Park. forest and the sun rays shining through

marine life than Catalina, although the wa- S cuba diving at Anacapa Island can be the kelp combined with curious sea lions
ter temps are a little cooler. Best diving is an easy and fulfilling trip for everyone, darting about can make for some breath-
usually on the east & west ends, and on the taking moments. Best time weather wise is

south side. Dives sites are usually a little with its many excellent dive spots and good generally the end of summer. The sun is still

more shallow at Anacapa. Almost five miles visibility, you will be in for a treat. Most strong and the water has had a chance to

long, its total land area is about one square dives are next to the island in depths from a warm up throughout the summer months.

miles. Anacapa is composed of three small few feet to about 60 feet. It is possible to do It is almost impossible to predict exact

islets inaccessible from each other except deeper dives but this is really not required weather conditions here.

by boat. For much of the year the island to see more. The bottom is rocky reef and W ater temperature is coldest from
vegetation looks brown. With winter rains, sand in most places. Some spots offer kelp February to May varying between
Anacapa takes on a new life full of color. forests, walls, and pinnacles. Hundreds of

S ea mammals are often seen around plants and small animals share the reefs 52° and 58°. From June to September it will
Anacapa shores. January through March with many varieties of fish including kelp range from 60° to as high as 70° then slowly
bass, sheephead and garibaldi. begin to drop. October through January

is gray whale watch season, and migrating I t is not unusual to spot sea lions, seals, finds the water in the low sixties to high
whales can be seen swimming along their lobster, bat rays, horn sharks, moray eels, fifties. Air temperature runs 60° to 75° in
10,000 mile migration route. Ocean waves the summer and fall and in the fifties in the

have eroded the perimeter of the island, and occasionally giant black sea bass as winter and spring. Visibility rarely goes be-

creating steep sea cliffs towering hundreds well as blacksmith perch, sardines, mack- low 10 feet and can be as high as 100 feet.

of feet in height and exposing the volcanic erel, anchovies, and other small schooling

origins of air pockets, lava tubes, and sea fish. The more you look the more you see!