Channel Islands (California)

The Channel Islands, also known as the Santa Barbara Islands, lie off the coast of of California in the United States, between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles and lie in Santa Barbara County, Ventura County and Los Angeles County. Regions Northern islands Anacapa Island - part of Channel Islands National Park San Miguel Island - part of Channel Islands National Park Santa Cruz Island - part of Channel Islands National Park Santa Rosa Island - part of Channel Islands National Park Southern islands San Clemente Island - US Navy controlled San Nicolas Island - small island, relatively flat, located in the northeastern-most position of the southern group. Owned by the US Navy, and is used for an instrumentation range. The island itself is not accessible to civilians, because it houses numerous classified facilities. However, the waters off San Nicolas are used for scuba diving. This island is best known as the setting of the legend of Juana Maria, as told in the novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. Santa Barbara Island - part of Channel Islands National Park Santa Catalina Island Cities Avalon Other destinations Channel Islands National Park - (Ventura) Close to the California mainland, yet worlds apart, Channel Islands National Park encompasses five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment, preserving and protecting a wealth of natural and cultural resources. Isolation over thousands of years has created unique animals, plants, and archeological resources found nowhere else. Get in San Nicolas is the furthest of the Channel Islands from the mainland. Charter dive boats such as The Great Escape need seven to eight hours to reach SNI from Long Beach. Another option is Scuba Locker, of Riverside, CA which organizes scheduled dive trips. Boats usually leave around 9:00 or 10:00PM. Get around See Do San Nicolas -- Scuba diving is about the only activity available to civilians. Large spiny lobsters are the target of the eager divers. However, the diving environs are quite rough and available to experienced/certified divers only. Because of its hostile but productive dive environment, it has become legendary among California divers. Buy Eat Drink Sleep Get out This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!