Anacapa Arch
Dive site
The defining image of California diving — a natural rock arch at East Anacapa Island framing open blue water, surrounded by dense kelp and encrusted with orange and purple sea stars, bryozoans, and hydroids. California sea lions come through the arch at speed; harbor seals rest on the ledges above the waterline. Cold upwelling keeps visibility exceptional and the invertebrate life extraordinarily dense. An absolute must-do on any Channel Islands itinerary.
Conditions
Depth
5 to 24 m
Open water and up
Current
Can be moderate
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
12 to 24 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
12 to 18°C
7mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Current | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle |
Your chances of seeing each animal
California sea lion
Photo: Jennifer Digdigan · © all rights reserved
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Harbor seal
Photo: Andrew Reding · CC BY-NC-ND
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Garibaldi
Photo: Nereus · © all rights reserved
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Purple sea urchin
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Giant sea bass
Photo: Phil Garner · © all rights reserved
Rare
Now and then
Field journal
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