If you keep walking past the bathrooms and the visitor center towards the campground you’ll find their hut on the right. You can rent snorkeling gear on the island from the Santa Barbara/Channel Islands Adventure Company at their “Snorkeling Hut”.

You might even get lucky and see leopard sharks (don’t worry, they only eat crabs and other small critters off the seafloor).Įxcellent snorkeling exists directly off the beach at both Prisoners Harbor and Scorpion Anchorage, both locations where the ferry lands on Santa Cruz Island. California sea lions and the Garibaldi, which resemble giant goldfish, playfully lurk in the kelp forests, and sightings are almost guaranteed. In order to experience all that Santa Cruz Channel Island has to offer, you need to take a peek below the surface. Kayak tours are offered year-round with the best conditions for the caves generally from June to October.Įncounters with California sea lions and harbor seals are also a common occurrence, so have that camera ready!Ģ) Santa Cruz Island Snorkeling or Diving The Santa Barbara Adventure Company runs and operates the Channel Islands Adventure Company which offers tours that range from 1.5 hours of paddling to 5 hours of paddling.Įven if conditions force you to skip the caves, you will be mesmerized by the 600-foot vertical cliffs as you slowly glide over the giant kelp beds that hug the coastline. The National Park Service has selected one authorized kayak guiding and outfitting concession for the Scorpion Anchorage area on Santa Cruz Island. Some of the caves you enter from one side and come out another, navigating the small passageways.Įntering the caves does require some finesse and local knowledge, so it’s worth considering a kayak tour. From Elephant’s Belly to Marge Simpson to Green Room to Limbo they all have unique names based on their features. Santa Cruz Island’s coastline is littered with dozens of sea caves just waiting to be explored. 5 Best Things to Do on Santa Cruz Island 1) Santa Cruz Island Kayaking

Santa cruz island trip