Santa Rosa Island

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Channel Island National Park map of Santa Rosa Island

Attractions & Wildlife

There are much of the same things that you would normally see at San Miguel Island such as large schools of rockfish, huge sunflower stars, a colorful array of anemones, scallops, and an abundance of invertebrates, wolf eels, large lobsters and Scallop. Santa Rosa is also home to a number of wrecks such as the Aggi, Golden Horn, SS Chicksaw and the Crown of England plus it also has its Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where it is strictly look and don’t touch.

North side (front side)-Sandy Point to East Point Starting at the west end is probably one of the best-known areas,

• Talcott Shoals which is known for its good lobster diving. Close to Talcott Shoals is the wreck of the Aggi which was a three masted barkentine ship that sunk in early May 1915. Moving east you come to Brockway Point and then to Carrington Point which is a Marine Reserve (MR). Both have large shallow reefs and just past Carrington Point you have Becher’s Bay. Becher’s Bay provides good protection from the weather with its Northeast and Southeast anchorages. At the east end of Santa Rosa Island, you have Skunk Point and East Point with most of the area between the two designated the Skunk Point Marine Reserve (MR).

Listed are a few of the great dive sites along the Northside area of Santa Rosa:

• Aggi Wreck- The Aggi was a three-masted sailing ship that was 265-feet long, and almost 40-feet wide. She originally was named the Aspice and through the years and many changes became the Aggi. She was being towed in a bad storm and because of the rough seas they had to release her tow. She drifted and on May 4, 1915 she was washed onto Santa Rosa Island. The majority of the wreckage lies in 20 to 30 feet of water in the Talcott shoal’s area, with some debris reaching depths of 50′. She can be a fun dive when weather permits.
• Talcott Shoals-Very large area that is known for some good lobster diving. Some fish like sheepsheads and lingcod and some small rock fish. Lots of invertebrate life in the deeper waters and good for macro photography. This area has lots of ledges and diagonal reef structure with lots of smaller holes for lobster to hide in. The ledges for the most part run parallel to each other with other rock debris and sand between them. Some kelp in the shallow areas. This area is very weather dependent with depths of 20’-80’ plus.
• Rhodes Reef-This is an offshore pinnacle that breaks the surface and diving it is very weather dependent. It slopes to a rocky reef with some kelp. Good spearfishing area for rock fish and kelp bass and great for photography with lots of invertebrates, large anemones and sea stars. Depths from 20’-60’.
• Carrington Point-Very large rocky reef with some kelp. Good spearfishing area for rock fish and kelp bass and great for photography with lots of invertebrates, large anemones and sea stars. Depths from 20’-60’.

South side (back side)-East Point to Sandy Point On the south side there are many good dive spots especially when it is calm enough to dive along the west end between Sandy Point and South Point. Here you will find the wrecks of the Golden Horn, a four masted bark carrying coal that sunk in September 1892 and the Chickasaw. Besides the wrecks there are some other good sites in this area. They are Bee Rock, Cluster Point and South Point with the area between Cluster Point and South Point being designated the South Point Marine Reserve (MR).

The east side is protected Channel Islands Dive Adventures scuba trips aboard the Peace dive boat by South Point and therefore usually has the best diving conditions. It is here you will find the Johnson Lee anchorage used by charter boats out on multi-day trips. Other good dive sites along the east end are Ford Point and the East End pinnacles and the Crown of England wreck. The Crown of England was a steamship that ran aground in November 1894. Because of fog and navigating around the islands could be harsh, quite a few of the ships meet their fate by running aground. Because of the weather around the northern islands, Santa Rosa is where you may end up if going to San Miguel and you will not be sorry that you did.

Listed are a few of the great dive sites along the South side of Santa Rosa Island:

• East End Pinnacles-This area consist of several pinnacles that are more like large sea mounds with flat tops on them. There are some large walls along the sides and lots of crevices throughout the area. You will find some kelp, fish and lobsters but the best is the excellent macro photography you will find here with all the invertebrate life that covers the pinnacles. The tops of the pinnacles are about 40’-50’ deep and the surrounding area gets to about 90’.
• Ford Point-Very large rocky area with lots of structure and lots of healthy kelp. You can find sheepshead, lingcod, lobsters, rock fish and kelp bass along with a number of abalones. Good photography with lots of invertebrates, large anemones and sea stars. Depths between 30’-70’.
• Johnsons Lee-An excellent anchorage for boats needing a safe place to spend the night. Mostly rocky reef with nice structure and sand channels between reef sections. Quite a bit of kelp with invertebrate life and smaller fish making it not the best for hunting game. Depths between 25’-50’.
• The Chickasaw Wreck-Built in 1942 as a cargo ship, she was later refitted, renamed and served as a WW II auxiliary transport ship. After the war she was returned to civilian duty and renamed again as the Chickasaw which ran aground in February 1962 carrying cargo from Japan. Most all of her has been returned to the ocean disintegrating into the surf line. Nothing remains visible of the ship now and few have dived her. The area is rocky reef, lots of kelp and shallow. There are large sheepshead and spearfishing can be good here on calm days. Depths from 10’-40’. More information.
• Bee Rock-Two exposed rock creating an excellent dive site when weather permits which isn’t often making this an untouched site. Steep sides leading to large rocks and crevices with healthy kelp, rock fish, kelp bass, sheepshead and more. Good for spearfishing and excellent for photography with lots of invertebrates, sea stars, anemones and more. Depths of 20’-70’.