California Diving News: Coral Reef, Anacapa Island dive site

This is one of the more colorful reefs in all the Channel Islands.

Coral Reef

Is there really coral here? No, but the diving here is THAT spectacular! The beauty, color, water clarity and marine life at these reefs rivals that of some of the world’s finest tropical coral reefs—and you get kelp, too!

Coral Reef on the backside of Anacapa’s West Island is actually a series of four reefs. There is the inner east and west reefs, the middle reef, and outer reef (out and slightly to the east). The inner reefs abut the island and run in depth from 25 to 40 feet. It can be a bit surgy here, but if you hit it on a calm day you can be treated to channels with kelp towering above and shallow reef fish in the crevices. Look for green abalone in the dark crevices up near its kelp food. Once very abundant, a few snails have remained to hopefully repopulate the area. Don’t touch! These simple animals are protected.

The best diving is on the outer edges of the middle and outer reef. The stretches of sand that separate the middle from the inner, and outer from the middle, are not large. It is short enough, as a matter of fact, that on a day of good visibility (which is not unusual) it is possible to see two reefs from the middle of the sand flats. Depths between the inner middle reefs is 55 feet, slightly deeper between the middle and outer. The sand flats are a beautiful warm ivory color, made up mostly of bits of shells. It is a wonderful place to be when the sun shines high at noon. The high level of animal activity on the sand hints at what is in store on the reef. Across the flats you will find large pink short-spined stars and lumbering sheep crabs, a kind of spider crab that can be easily approached, but keep clear of those powerful pinchers. Bat rays are also common here.

As you approach the outer reefs, the bottom blossoms with brittle star arms. It is so thick in spots as to appear as shag carpet. The rocks rise in a jumble 20 feet from the bottom, but they are so covered with marine life that is hard to even tell they are rocks. The reef is literally overrun with invertebrates. There are feather duster worms, sea cucumbers, anemones, gorgonians, stars and more.

The gorgonians are my personal favorite. On the backside of Anacapa’s West Island is the best area to see the small but intensely colorful purple gorgonian. Look closely in its branches and you may get lucky and see the tiny and rare Simnia mollusk that lives almost exclusively on these and red gorgonians. Their color matches their home so they are hard to spot. Not only is the gorgonian home to the small snail, but food as well.

Scorpionfish.

The variety of stars is also excellent. On one dive it is not unusual to see a dozen kinds, and many are brilliantly colored. The blood star is one of the more common, and you will be hard pressed to find a more bright orange underwater or on land.

Needless to say, macro photography is excellent. Come prepared to shoot nudibranchs, numerous small fish, and octopus.

Across the top of the reef kelp growth is not unusual, but it is generally thick. Don’t count on being able to spot the reef from the surface by the kelp patches. Depending on the season it can be thin and frequently lays over in the strong currents that are common here.

If anything will keep you from diving this spot, it is the currents. They are almost always present and often strong. Worse yet, they can come up suddenly. Prepare accordingly by using good current diving techniques— start your dive up current, leave somebody aboard the boat, and use a trailing current line.

Simnia on gorgonia sea fan.

The outer reef is the most vulnerable to the strong currents but well worth the extra work. Peaking out at about 45 feet, the reef drops away sharply to over 80 feet and then to over 100. At one point, it is vertical wall. Look out to see and you may spy a passing whale, pelagic fish or giant black sea bass.

Much of California’s seas have places that thrill underwater but few compare to Anacapa’s Coral Reef. And an added advantage is Anacapa Island’s close proximity to the mainland, making getting there easy from a private boat out of Port Hueneme, Channel Islands Harbor or Ventura Harbor. But why not leave the driving to the pros and catch a ride with one of the excellent dive charter boats operating out of Ventura or Santa Barbara (see below).

Special thanks to dive boat Spectre for assistance in creating this article.

DIVE SPOT AT A GLANCE
Location: Just off the backside of the west end of West Anacapa Island. GPS for Middle Reef N 34°00.447', W 119°26.40' (GPS for reference only. Do not use as your sole source of navigation.)
Access: Boat only.
Skill Levels: Intermediate. Novice on middle and inner reefs if currents are calm.
Visibility: Excellent. Averages 40 feet with 60 to 100 not unusual.
Photography: Excellent macro and very good for wide-angle.
Hunting: A few lobster in season. Some scallops.
Hazards: Strong currents.
Suggested Dive Charter Boats Frequently Serving This Area:
Spectre - (805) 483-6612
Peace - (805) 984-2025
Truth/Conception/Vision - (805) 962-1127
Liberty - (805) 642-6655
or see the California Scuba Calendar section of this issue for trips to Santa Barbara Island.

Dale Sheckler is Editor and Publisher of California Diving News, Producer of the annual SCUBA Show expo (each June in Long Beach, CA), and co-author of the book newly released A Diver's Guide to Southern California's Best Beach Dives, 3rd Edition.