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.
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.
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.
One of California's largest dive boats.
Big boat, light load. That means room to gear up, space to move and everything you need for a full day offshore.
Dedicated dive stations
A light load means space at your own station. Gear up, kit down and get in the water without fighting for the rail.
Restrooms with hot showers
Two heads with two hot freshwater showers, plus a freshwater hot tub on deck to warm up between dives.
Room to relax
Comfortable indoor seating, hot meals from the galley and Starlink Wi-Fi for the ride out and back.
Experienced crew
A seasoned deck crew focused on safe, efficient operations. The Captain picks the sites around conditions and the day's objective.
Channel Islands National Park.
The Captain picks sites by ocean conditions and the day's objective. These are the waters in play.
Local trips run the near islands. Extended trips reach the outer ones.
- Anacapa Walls, sea caves and thick fish life close to home
- East Santa Cruz Kelp reefs and sand flats, prime halibut and lobster ground
- West Santa CruzDeeper walls, colder water, everything is bigger
- Gull IslandOffshore island on the backside of Santa Cruz, a Marine Protected Area with dramatic kelp and drop-offs
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.
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6:00 AMDock
Check in and load gear
Load your gear at your station and grab a hot breakfast. Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure.
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6:30 AMBriefing
Morning briefing
Crew walks through boat and dive safety procedures. Mandatory for all divers.
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7:00 AMCrossing
Cast off for the islands
Shorter hop to Anacapa or the east end of Santa Cruz. Eat and set up your gear on the way out.
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Dives
Adventure Dives
Complete up to three dives centered around the objective of your selected adventure. Whether you're hunting lobster or halibut, photographing marine life, exploring deep reefs, or participating in another specialty dive, the Captain will select the day's dive sites based on ocean conditions and the goals of the trip.
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Galley
BBQ lunch onboard
Tri tip, chicken or veggie burger off the grill, served on deck between dives.
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Dock
Return to Ventura Harbor
Relax with our famous brownie sundaes on the ride home. Return is typically between 4 and 5 PM, depending on your adventure, destination and ocean conditions.
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5:00 AMDock
Check in and load gear
Same load-in, one hour earlier for the longer crossing. Check-in opens 60 minutes before departure.
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5:30 AMBriefing
Morning briefing
Crew walks through boat and dive safety procedures. Mandatory for all divers.
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6:00 AMCrossing
Cast off for the outer islands
Longer run to the west end of Santa Cruz or Gull Island. Eat and set up your gear on the way out.
-
Dives
Adventure Dives
Complete up to three dives centered around the objective of your selected adventure. Whether you're hunting lobster or halibut, photographing marine life, exploring deep reefs, or participating in another specialty dive, the Captain will select the day's dive sites based on ocean conditions and the goals of the trip.
-
Galley
BBQ lunch onboard
Tri tip, chicken or veggie burger off the grill, served on deck between dives.
-
Dock
Return to Ventura Harbor
Relax with our famous brownie sundaes on the ride home. Return is typically between 4 and 5 PM, depending on your adventure, destination and ocean conditions.
Ventura Harbor Village, Dock D.
About an hour from LAX, 90 minutes from downtown LA, 30 minutes from Santa Barbara.
Departure
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.
How to show up.
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Rig the night before.Check your regs, computer and lights so load-in is quick.
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Arrive 60 minutes before your start.The crew needs the time to load before we cast off. The boat cannot wait for late arrivals.
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Bring your cert card.It is required to board. These trips are for certified divers with recent cold-water experience.
- Hunting? Bring your license and catch gear.Hunting needs a California fishing license with ocean enhancement stamp. Lobster also needs a report card and gauge. Bring your own catch bags, cooler, ice and a filet knife. The boat has a game tank and cleaning station.
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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.
Let's go Diving.
This is the Channel Islands the way few divers get to see them. A light load, remote water and a full day built around your objective.