Channel Islands, California, United States

Santa Cruz Painted Cave

Painted Cave is on the northwest coast of Santa Cruz Island inside Channel Islands National Park and is one of the largest sea caves in the world by volume. The cave reaches 374 metres into the cliff, with the entrance roughly 30 metres tall and 30 metres wide. The walls are streaked with lichens, algae and mineral deposits in vivid greens, oranges, reds and blacks that give the cave its name. The site is more famous as a kayak destination but experienced divers visit the entrance bowl from boats anchored in the bay outside, with depths of 6 to 12 metres. Surge inside the entrance can be significant and only the outer section is dived; deep penetration is for cavern-trained divers in calm conditions only. Marine life along the entrance walls includes large lingcod, cabezon, blue rockfish, kelp greenling, anemones, and giant green sea slugs. California sea lions and harbor seals are frequent companions. Conditions are best in late summer and early fall when the swell drops.