

Best for intermediate divers, 3-21m, boat entry, mild current.
Scorpion Anchorage at Santa Cruz Island offers a diverse underwater environment featuring reef, wreck, and kelp forest topography. Divers can explore depths ranging from 3 to 21 metres, with an average depth of 18 metres. Visibility varies significantly from 5 to 30 metres. The site requires boat access and is suited for intermediate divers due to potential surge, swell, and entanglement risks within the kelp. Water temperatures remain between 13 and 17 degrees Celsius, necessitating thermal protection. Species recorded around this area include California sea lions, harbour seals, horn sharks, Garibaldi, and various nudibranchs such as the Spanish shawl.
34.06077, -119.57468
Book through a guided tour operator familiar with the anchorage, as conditions, particularly swell and surge, can change the viable entry points and dive sites on any given day. A thick hood and gloves will make the 13 to 17 degree water far more manageable, especially on multi-dive days.
Access is by boat only. Charter dive boats from Oxnard, Ventura, and Santa Barbara frequent this spot.
Recorded at this site
Depth
3-21m
Visibility
5-30m
Skill Level
Intermediate
Entry
Boat
Boat required
Water Temp
13-17°C
Current
Mild
Species recorded around this area include California sea lions, harbour seals, horn sharks, Garibaldi, California spiny lobsters, and various nudibranchs like the Spanish shawl.
No, this site is rated for intermediate divers. The presence of surge, swell, strong currents, and overhead environments requires solid buoyancy control and situational awareness.
The site ranges from 3 to 21 metres in depth, with an average depth of 18 metres.
Boat access is required to reach this site, which is located approximately 32 kilometres from the shore.
Water temperatures range from 13 to 17 degrees Celsius year-round. Divers should expect mild currents, but surge and swell can change conditions rapidly.
A 7mm wetsuit or semi-dry is recommended for diving at Scorpion Anchorage in Santa Barbara. Water temperatures range from 13°C to 17°C.