Diving the Channel Islands is a trip to remember. In February of 2022, the host of Experiences You Should Have Podcast set out to dive the Channel Islands in Southern California and was blown away by the dive and 5-star dive boat experience. After experiencing it herself, Gail interviewed the owner of the Spectre Dive Boat, Ted Cumming. Listen to the podcast above or wherever you listen to podcasts. Read on for the full show notes on going Scuba diving in the Channel Islands on the Spectre Dive Boat.

The Channel Islands consists of 8 islands located in the Pacific Ocean right in Southern California. The islands in Channel Islands National Park are Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel and Santa Barbara.

The easiest way to dive the Channel Islands is by booking an all-day dive trip on the Spectre Dive Boat in Ventura on the mainland. It leaves early in the morning and comes back right around dinner time.

The kelp forest and the sea lions are the biggest draws for diving the Channel Islands. The Spectre boat generally goes to Santa Cruz or Anacapa islands. Anacapa is an island not to be missed as it is marine protected and sea lions will come there by the hundreds! This is definitely an experience you should have if you love sea lions and witnessing their playful manner underwater. Most of the area around the Channel Islands is protected, which offers fantastic opportunities for underwater photography and underwater sightseeing.

The kelp forests are not to be missed in the Channel Islands. You can find an array of sea life in the kelp forests including Garibaldi, nudibranchs, lobsters, and even octopuses. If you can time your dive trip for a sunny day, then you can look upward underwater and see the magnificent sun rays shining through the water mixed in with waving kelp above your head. It’s the perfect place for reflection and meditation underwater.

If you’re looking to dive the Channel Islands then you need to have an Open Water dive certification. The Spectre dive boat goes to very beginner-friendly dive sites that don’t require advanced certification. All dives are designed to stay within recreational diving limits and are a great spot to dive if you are a new or seasoned diver.

If you aren’t certified for diving, then you have the option to snorkel the Channel Islands which provides an excellent experience to see the world below you. If snorkelling, you will need to be comfortable swimming in the ocean and getting up and down the ladder to the platform.

Interested in getting your open water certification in the area? Santa Barbara Aquatics and Thousand Oaks Channel Island Scuba are highly recommended.

Currently, in the Spring of 2022, the cost is about $169 (which includes 3 dives). If you need to rent gear then the total comes to $249. Weekdays cost $20 less. It costs $125 for snorkelers and $45 for snorkel gear if renting. All food is included with that price which includes breakfast, lunch, dessert and snacks. I can attest that the food is great! You will not go hungry on this boat. The Spectre dive boat also has a hot tub on board.

A suggested tip would be about $20 per person or you could tip $10 per tank per person ($30 per person for a 3-tank dive).

Diving the Channel Islands is considered cold water diving and 7 mm wetsuits are recommended (or Dry Suit) if you are certified. Temperatures can easily swing 15 degrees from winter months to summer months. In February of 2022, it was about 52 degrees Fahrenheit, while late summer temperatures can be upwards of 70 degrees.

You can dive the Channel Islands year-round, however late summer and early fall is typically the best time for visibility and temperature. Spring can bring in storms that decrease visibility.

The Spectre Dive Boat is not wheelchair friendly, however, if there are adaptive divers or snorkelers who can go up steps or down ladders, the staff is more than happy to help when needed.

The Spectre Dive Boat leaves fairly early in the morning with a 6ish AM check-in time. If looking for local accommodations. La Quinta Inn by Wyndham Ventura is about a five-minute walk from where the Spectre is located and is reasonably priced.

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Thank you to Douglas Klug for giving permission to use his images for this podcast episode