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First, let me start by saying there are no coral reefs off the California coast. So why does this dive site carry an apparently misleading name? While not actually a coral reef, per se, the dive site known as “Coral Reef” at Anacapa Island can often be as spectacular in color and marine life as any in most tropical seas.

Coral Reef gains much of its glory from the abundant invertebrate life that covers the rocks. This is one of the finest samplings of invertebrate life in all the Channel Islands. While not in reef building form, there are some corals here. Gorgonians are a soft coral, a kind of sea fan. Dotted across the reef are red, purple and golden gorgonian. They sway in the currents filtering out food that drifts by. Take a closer look at their tiny anemone-like polyps. Also, with a closer look you might spot small crabs, oysters, and the tiny simnia snail that lives among the gorgonian branches.

Patch carpets of brittle stars cover sections of the reef. Each brittle star is an individually glorious creature, colorful and worthy of several photos. And here there are millions, perhaps billions.
Also carpeting the rocks are patches of finger-sized corynactis anemones. These guys segregate themselves into distinctive patches of orange, pink, and lavender, and while you will find the different colors right next to each other, they rarely intermingle.

This is a good nudibranch location. On my most recent dive here, I found three translucent white Tritonia festiva nudibranchs in one square yard! Other nudibranchs found on the same dive included Spanish shawls, chromodorid, and yellow porostome.

Coral Reef is actually a series of three reefs covering a fairly large area on the backside of West Anacapa Island. The reefs run roughly parallel to shore with narrow stretches of ivory sand between. The inner two reefs are usually covered with kelp and while abundant marine life, lack the heavy mat of invertebrate growth of the outer reef. Outer Coral Reef is definitely my favorite with the most abundant and photogenic life.

I like to dive these reefs by dropping down on the middle reef and then cross over the sand to the outer reef. On the sand you stand a good chance of an encounter with a big bat ray, large halibut, or a curious sea lion. The sand between the two reefs is about 55-60 feet deep.

Coming up on the outer reef, it rises in a series of ridges about 10 feet off the sand bottom. Kelp is more sparse here and the current is always pumping. As a matter of fact if anything is going to keep you from diving here it is the current. Coral Reef is only diveable about half the time.

The seaward side drops off quickly to over 120 feet and a lot of action takes place here. Big lingcod are not unusual and rockfish common. Divers have seen pelagics like sharks, molas and yellowtail. While there are not a lot of holes for lobster, and consequently not many lobster, when you do find one, they are often of exceptional size.

Coral Reef is one of those kind of dives of which you will never tire. I always see something new here. And more importantly, my camera always seems to see something new.Dive Spot At • A • Glance
Location: Backside of the west end of West Anacapa Island.
Access: Boat only. Heavy currents frequently prevent diving here.
Depths: Typical dive depths 50 to 80 feet but can exceed 100 easily.
Skill Level: Intermediate or better due to the frequently strong current.
Visibility: Generally very good, 30 to 50 feet, but can drop during plankton blooms.
Photography: Excellent for macro. Fair for wide-angle, best on the middle reef in the kelp.
Hunting: Fair for scallops and lobster. Some spearfishing for lingcod, rockfish and halibut in the sand.
Suggested Charter Boats Serving This Area:
Spectre - (805) 483-6612
Peace - (866) 984-2025
Truth/Conception/Vision - (805) 962-1127
Sunfish - (805) 644-1499
or see the California Scuba Calendar section of this issue for trips to Anacapa Island

Kim Sheckler is executive editor of California Diving News and is the co-author of the book Southern California's Best Beach Dives.

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