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Terranea Resort, the New Marineland
I have some wonderful memories of visiting Marineland of the Pacific: Bubbles the pilot whale, Orky and Corky, Baja Reef... but my favorite memories ca |
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Author |
: Mike Bartick |
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Location |
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Anacapa
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Date |
: July 21, 2009 |
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Anacapa’s west end is one of the wildest and prettiest spots of all three islets that make up the island. It is not always accessible but worth the effort to try. Often times current or wind will forbid safe anchorage for any vessel. But when the timing is just right the diving is incredible and the payoff is huge.
Rat Rock is the tip or western most point dropping into the greater Anacapa Passage. The islands natural topography erodes from constant open ocean exposure. The ridge of the island narrows and falls away into the deep, forming a series of smaller ridges and gullies. The reef drops away into rubble and sand at around the 70-foot mark and continues to get deep. From top to bottom there is color, red algae, giant kelp, bryozoan, variety of gorgonians and a cobalt blue backdrop.
The reef is busy with nesting garibaldi, treefish, rockfish, señoritas and massive sheephead. No sea life can be taken here. The protected nature of the island has allowed full growth of the once dominant fish to proliferate. Looking like smiling torpedoes they will approach a photographer’s wide-angle lens port to glance at themselves. They will often pose or follow a diver without fear. In the kelp canopy, pinnipeds can be seen cruising about, California sea lions and harbor seals both call this area home though not often seen together. In between the boulders, one will see antennae of the large lobster that also inhabit the reef.
I like to start my dive deep at this site, mainly because it’s one of the few places at Anacapa Island that a fairly decent depth can be reached. Arriving at the sloping sandy bottom one will see large sea pens, brittle stars, sarcastic fringeheads and on occasion resting torpedo rays.
The main attraction for me is the ability to shoot wide-angle photos here of the “Dive California” trademark photos of kelp diving and sunbeams burning through the water column. Silhouettes of divers and the hide-and-seek photos of harbor seals will avail themselves as you work your way around the reef. The kelp begins at about the 60-foot mark and makes for an excellent dive in itself. As you head west into the deeper water, the reef falls away into smaller pinnacle-like structures and boulders and the current begins to pick up. It is possible to hook around to the other side of the island here, but do it with caution as you may have a rough trip back against the current. Remember, big current can mean big fish so keep an eye on the blue. If you are lucky you may see a mola-mola, the odd-shaped pelagic sunfish that seems to wear a puckered lip kiss-me expression on its face. Giant black sea bass are also known to frequent this area but tend to be very skittish.
As you begin to return and ascend, the little hidey-holes, nooks and crannies become more apparent. Creatures adorn the red gorgonian and the shallows seem to be teeming with a variety invertebrate life. Nudibranch enthusiasts will enjoy this area as well.
The Channel Islands are truly one of California’s greatest treasures. Anacapa Island is often dismissed to discerning divers but it shouldn’t be. From the sea lions to nudibranchs, clean blue water and kelp forests, Anacapa really has it all.
This area is easily accessible by day boats from Ventura harbor and the trip across is a quick one. A couple of the well-equipped day boats even have hot tubs aboard just to add to the whole experience. I have found that the diving conditions here are reliably better then the other channel island due to the protected nature of Anacapa. But with the exposed nature of the west end, diving Rat Rock can be elusive.
Dive Spot at a Glance
Location: North side of the western most end of Anacapa Island
Access: Boat only
Depths: Range from 60-100, with the prime diving is done between 60 and 80 feet
Visibility: Reliably good to excellent
Photography: Be ready for wide-angle; bring macro as a back up.
Skill Level: Intermediate and advanced due to current
Hunting: Not allowed as this is a protected no-take area
Hazards: Converging currents are prevalent in this area; safety sausage is recommended.
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