LIMITED LOAD ADVENTURE SERIES  ·  CHANNEL ISLANDS NATIONAL PARK

Built for experienced divers.

These are not instructional trips. They are made for certified, self-sufficient divers who are comfortable in Southern California's open water, including cold water, surge, current and changing visibility. You must be 18 or older and hold a valid certification from a recognized agency. If you are newly certified or without recent cold-water experience, build up on other trips first.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT SEE WHAT'S ONBOARD
Experienced, certified divers only
PICK A DATE

Reserve your spot.

Pick a date and your adventure. Each trip is labeled by objective, so you know what you are diving before you book. Start time depends on where we are headed. Booking confirms instantly.

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THE TRIP

Fewer Divers. More Room.

The Spectre runs limited-load scuba days into the Channel Islands out of Ventura Harbor. We keep the load light on purpose, so you get deck space, a real place to organize your kit and less time waiting your turn to splash. Every trip is built around one objective. Lobster, halibut, underwater photography, deep reef or another specialty. The Captain sets the destination and dive sites for the day's conditions and goals. You gear up, drop in, warm up, eat, dive again. Up to three dives a day.

BBQ lunch is served between dives. Tri tip, chicken or veggie burger. Back at the harbor between 4 and 5 PM, weather depending.

Certified divers Limited load Up to three dives Rentals available BBQ lunch National Park
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WHAT YOU’LL LIKELY SEE

Kelp forest, lobster, halibut and deep reef.

The Channel Islands sit where the cold California current meets warmer water, which is why the marine life runs so thick. Conditions range from clear and calm to cold and challenging.

The crew will brief you on the day and what’s in season.

  • California lobster Bug season, roughly October into March
  • Halibut Sand flats and edges, year-round
  • Sheephead Rocky reef, a Channel Islands staple
  • Rockfish and scallops Deeper structure off the islands
  • Kelp forest Some of California’s densest stands
WHAT THE DAY LOOKS LIKE

Where we go sets the day.

Farther water means an earlier start, so your day depends on where we are headed. Timings shift with the destination and the plan, but the two shapes look like this.

LOCAL 7 AM DEPARTURE
Anacapa and the east end of Santa Cruz
Shorter crossing, quicker to the first drop.
  1. 6:00 AM
    Dock

    Check in and load gear

    Load your gear at your station and grab a hot breakfast. Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure.

  2. 6:30 AM
    Briefing

    Morning briefing

    Crew walks the day's plan and the dive sites before you board.

  3. 7:00 AM
    Crossing

    Cast off for the islands

    Shorter hop to Anacapa or the east end of Santa Cruz. Rig up on the ride out.

  4. Midday
    Dives

    Up to three dives

    Up to three dives on the day's objective, sites set by the Captain for conditions. Warm up in the hot tub between rounds.

  5. Between
    Galley

    BBQ lunch onboard

    Tri tip, chicken or veggie burger off the grill, served on deck between dives.

  6. Afternoon
    Dock

    Back at the harbor

    Back between 4 and 5 PM. Brownie sundaes on the ride home, weather depending.

EXTENDED 6 AM DEPARTURE
West end of Santa Cruz and Gull Island
Longer crossing, bigger and deeper water.
  1. 5:00 AM
    Dock

    Check in and load gear

    Same load-in, one hour earlier for the longer crossing. Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure.

  2. 5:30 AM
    Briefing

    Morning briefing

    Crew walks the day's plan and the dive sites before you board.

  3. 6:00 AM
    Crossing

    Cast off for the outer islands

    Longer run to the west end of Santa Cruz or Gull Island. Eat and rig on the way out.

  4. Midday
    Dives

    Up to three dives

    Up to three dives on bigger, deeper water. Warm up in the hot tub between rounds.

  5. Between
    Galley

    BBQ lunch onboard

    Tri tip, chicken or veggie burger off the grill, served on deck between dives.

  6. Afternoon
    Dock

    Back at the harbor

    Back between 4 and 5 PM. Brownie sundaes on the ride home, weather depending.

GETTING HERE

Ventura Harbor Village, Dock D.

About an hour from LAX, 90 minutes from downtown LA, 30 minutes from Santa Barbara.

Illustrated parking map of Ventura Harbor Village showing the Whale lot and Dock D Departure
BOAT SLIP

Dock D, Slip 25

Ventura Harbor Village
1591 Spinnaker Dr
Ventura, CA 93001

Open in maps
PARKING

Whale Lot

Park in the lot marked “Whale.” Free for guests Monday through Thursday, $10 all day Friday through Sunday and holidays. Free parking along Spinnaker before the Whale lot.

CHECK-IN 5 AM extended, 6 AM local, at the gangway
DAY-OF TIPS

How to show up.

  • Rig the night before.
    Check your regs, computer and lights so load-in is quick.
  • Arrive 60 minutes before your start.
    The crew needs the time to load before we cast off. The boat cannot wait for late arrivals.
  • Bring your cert card.
    It is required to board. These trips are for certified divers with recent cold-water experience.
  • Bring your license and hunting gear.
    Hunting needs a California fishing license with ocean enhancement stamp. Lobster also needs a report card, a gauge and catch bags.
  • Layer up and pack Dramamine.
    It gets breezy on the channel. Take it the night before if you tend to get seasick. The channel is calmest before noon.
READY WHEN YOU ARE

The islands are waiting.

Bring your kit. We've got the rest. Breakfast, BBQ, a hot tub and brownie sundaes on the ride home.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT
certified divers 18+ fishing license required