{"id":17418,"date":"2009-11-13T00:16:35","date_gmt":"2009-11-13T00:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwphoto.onpressidium.com\/book\/catalina-island-underwater\/"},"modified":"2025-08-15T06:57:18","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T06:57:18","slug":"catalina-island-underwater","status":"publish","type":"book","link":"https:\/\/www.uwphotographyguide.com\/book\/underwater-photography-guide\/underwater-photography-destinations\/channel-islands-diving\/catalina-island-underwater\/","title":{"rendered":"Catalina Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

Catalina Island<\/a> is a popular location for underwater photography and diving in the Southern Channel Islands<\/a>, in Southern California. Beautiful giant kelp forests<\/a> surround the island, and large black sea bass<\/a> frequent the waters. California marine life<\/a> is very prolific here. There is also the popular Catalina Dive Park. Scuba diving Catalina Island is a wonderful experience you will never forget.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"giant<\/p>\n

Giant kelp forest photo at Catalina Island. Most dive sites at Catalina have large kelp forests. Read more about navigating kelp safely<\/a>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Catalina Island Marine life and Underwater photography subjects <\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

Giant Kelp forests<\/a> are everywhere around the island rising up from 25ft-65ft on the bottom up to the surface. Current can often be gauged by looked down at the kelp from a boat. Large Bat rays are often sitting in the sand near the kelp. Giant sea bass<\/a> are most often seen east of Two Harbors on the frontside of the island, at 40-70ft deep. Angel sharks are found in the sand, near where the kelp\/reef ends – often at 90-100ft deep<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mantis shrimp – live in large holes in the sand, 50-80ft deep. Near Little Gibraltar is a good place. Octopus can be found in many crevices at 20-40ft deep. Moray Eels are in cracks and crevices 30-45ft deep, especially on the frontside. Horn sharks & Leopard sharks are often seen. Sea fans & Anemones adorn many dive sites, and Farnsworth Banks has purple hydrocoral.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Harbor Seals can be found in shallow water in the kelp, and Garibaldi & Sheephead are found everywhere, as arae Blue-banded Gobies. Zebra gobies are harder to find and a rare treat. Spanish shawl Nudibranchs are found on most rocky reefs, and other nudibranchs are more seasonal<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

You can read more about Catalina underwater macro photography<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"schools<\/p>\n

Schools of fish at the Casino Point dive park, Catalina island. Garibaldi, sheephead and kelp bass.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Catalina’s Best dive sites for underwater photography<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n