Channel Islands, California, United States

Anacapa Landing Cove

Anacapa Landing Cove is the main boat anchorage on the south side of East Anacapa Island inside Channel Islands National Park and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. It is one of the most reliable kelp forest dives in southern California: dense canopies of giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) reach to within a few metres of the surface and rise from a rocky bottom in 12 to 21 metres. The cove faces away from prevailing northwest swell and is often dive-able when other Channel Islands sites are blown out. Resident California sea lions haul out on the rocks and routinely play with divers. Other regulars include garibaldi (the California state marine fish), giant black sea bass, sheephead, kelp bass, blue rockfish, lingcod, orange and purple sea stars on the rocks, and large California spiny lobsters in season. Harbor seals and bat rays appear in the sand patches. Visibility is variable but typically best from August through November after the spring plankton blooms have cleared. Water temperatures are cold, generally 13 to 18 C.