Dive Itinerary: Kelp Forests to Nudibranchs

2 - 5 Day Southern Channel Islands Liveaboard Dive Experience

California's Channel Island chain has been compared to the Galapagos for it's diversity and beauty. The northern and southern islands though separated by only 80 miles of ocean are completely different in many respects. And from island to island the differences are striking.

Giant kelp forests are "The Redwoods of the Pacific". The beauty of a kelp forest...instead of standing at the bottom of the trees peering upward you can fly among the trees, 50 feet from the seafloor completely weightless and free!

Bat rays, soupfin sharks, mackerel in schools of 1000 fish or more, harbor seals, sea lions...and you can see these all on one dive! The amazement of flying through a kelp forest as you come face to face with a 300 pound giant black seabass or the fragile beauty of a Spanish shawl nudibranch as it forages the algae covered substrate.

With this in mind your Channel Islands dive experience is more than a trip, it will be an experience that you will share with others of like mind. These mini vacations are learning experiences as our staff will share your ocean experience helping you to identify creatures that you've encountered and pointing you toward the most interesting features of every dive site.

Our Channel Island dive experiences are from 1 to 5 days in duration with most departures being designed for divers and non divers alike. Snorkeling and kayaking in quiet coves and over beautiful kelp forests make these departures exciting for the entire family!

Day to Day Sample Itinerary:

Night of Departure: Boarding 7:00 - 8:30pm

Day 1: Welcome to Your Destination
You arrive early morning to the Captain's first destination of choice. If your trip has specific destinations, the Captain will stick as close to the trip itinerary as possible, taking into consideration weather and conditions.

6:30 - 8:30am Breakfast
Breakfast on these adventures is typically served buffet stlye allowing you to eat and dive, or to dive and eat. You choos
Continental Breakfast Pre-dive Snack

7:30 am Dive 1 Pool's Open!

10:30am Dive 2

12:00 - 1:00pm Lunch
During the lunch hour the captain will typically reposition MV Horizon to a different dive site. By the time you are finished eating, your tanks will be filled and ready for your next underwater adventure!

1:30am Dive 3

4:30 - 5:30pm Dive 4
The final dive of the day is typically in a location where you will also have the opportunity to night dive. During the late fall and winter months this dive will quite often start during the twilight and end at night - a FANTASTIC opportunity to watch the reef transition from diurnal to nocturnal activity.

Quite often the night dive orientation will take place prior to this dive.

6:30 Dinner
Dinner...come and get it! If you plan on diving after dinner you'll be able to have you cake and eat it too as the galley staff will place dessert aside for you enjoyment upon you return from the briney blue!

8:00 pm Night Dive
DON'T MISS OUT! The night dives are fantastic! To see a complete reef transformation in a kelp forest is quite striking. Lobster, horned sharks, scorpionfish, shrimp, sea urchins, abalone...all the animals you strained to find during the day are out at night in force.

Transit from island to island occurs during the night. On the final day of diving, three dives are planned and the dive times and meals are moved 45 minutes earlier.

Days 2 - Until the Final Day:

More of the same, only better as you become comfortable with your surroundings and start to appreciate the little things that California's amazing kelp forest ecosystem offers.

If your itinerary includes multiple destinations, the captain will reposition MV Horizon overnight.

Final Day of Trip:
If your departure includes an Overnight Extension: If you are on a departure that includes an overnight extension your day will be no different than the earlier days of your vacation. After the night dive on the final day, MV Horizon will slowly motor back to San Diego arriving at 6:00am the final morning.

After breakfast the crew will assist you with your equipment and personal belongings and bid you farewell.

If your departue is a Standard Departure: Your final day of diving will allow for 3 dives before departing for San Diego. The ride back to port typically takes 7 hours, with arrival close to 8:00pm

Upon arrival, the crew will help you disembark.