Santa Cruz Island

★★★★☆ (596)

Santa Cruz Island is the largest and most topographically diverse of the eight Channel Islands. The island is split into East and West; the east end of Santa Cruz Island is owned by the National Park Service and the west by the Nature Conservancy. Both are available for diving, accessible only by boat.

Out of the 80 species of Whales and Dolphins in the world today, 28 species have been documented in the Santa Barbara Channel and Southern California Bight.

Dive Activity

Potential Wildlife Sightings

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

15 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
15
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7

Sea Lion

Sea Lion

14 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

6 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

56 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
5
M
0
J
8
J
19
A
12
S
5
O
0
N
3
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

35 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
10
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
9
S
0
O
14
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 55

Lobster

Lobster

21 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
18
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

16 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
8
A
5
S
2
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 19

Seal

Seal

7 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
5
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

5 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
5
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
2
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

2 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
2
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 22

Cod

Cod

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

2 Sightings
J
0
F
0
M
0
A
0
M
0
J
0
J
0
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
0

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