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Top Snorkeling and Scuba Diving in Santa Barbara County

The top 32 dive and snorkel sites in Santa Barbara County, ranked by diver reviews, with maps and photos. Read the Santa Barbara County guide

dive sites
32
dive shops
2
reviews
20
AreasIsla Vista11Ventura3Goleta2Santa Barbara1Montecito1Capitan1
32 sites, ranked by diver reviews
Refugio State Beach1

Refugio State Beach

4.5(18 reviews)California Mid, USA West

Refugio is a very popular destination for beach-goers. With over 100 campsites (mostly reserved from early on in the vacation season), the beach can be very crowded. But once underwater you won't have to worry about those crowds! Just a short distance off shore you'll find kelp beds and reef, and, for the more adventurous, a rocky point to explore to the West. Found 19 miles West of Santa Barbara, take the Refugio exit of Highway 101, and follow the signs to the beach.

Shore entry
No photos yet
2

Mesa

3.0(1 review)USA, California, Santa Barbara

Cool reef overhangs, fish in the kelp beds... Great place for a summer-time free dive. Park on Mesa Lane and lug your gear down the stairs. Enter the water between the kelp beds. If you have a boat, you are stoked...

BeginnerMax depth 9.8 ftShore or Boat entry
No photos yet
3

Coal oil point

3.0(1 review)USA, California, Santa Barbara

If you are lucky, you may be able to see actual oil seeps as well as gas seeps, coming from the ocean floor. The oil seeps look like long black sticks from the ocean floor on calm days. These seeps make up the tar accumulation on the beach. Not the oil platforms offshore Park in IV and follow the bike trail down to the beach. Coal oil point is also known as Deveroux point.

BeginnerMax depth 32.8 ftShore or Boat entry
No photos yet
4

Biltmore

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara

Several low reefs off the beach provide habitat for fish and footing for kelp. Occasionally you'll see horn sharks on the sand. Traveling South along US 101, take exit 94A to Olive Mill Road. Go straight along Spring Road, and turn right at the first stop sign, onto Olive Mill Rd heading South. Olive Mill Road bends to the right and becomes Channel Drive, along the beach. Park along Channel Drive, preferably on the ocean side across from the Biltmore Hotel. Gear up and take the stairs to the beach. The dive is off the beach and generally to the right (East).

BeginnerMax depth 9.8 ftShore entry
No photos yet
5

Wilson Rock

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island

big scallops and lots of stuff on the rocks West of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
6

Castle Rock

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island

Big scallops and lots of stuff on and in the rocks West of Santa Rosa

BeginnerMax depth 42.7 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
7

Pelican Bay

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island

Halibut in the sand and Abalone in the rocy areas. Sea Lions sometimes. Near Prisoners Pier, north side of Santa Cruz Island

BeginnerMax depth 36.1 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
8

Wyckoff Ledge

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island

Lobster, Sea Lions and big fish South side of San Miguel Island

BeginnerMax depth 88.6 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
9

Tajiguas

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara

Directly off the beach are large sand flats. Look for pipefish and (at night) cusk-eels. A short underwater swim to the right are low rocky reefs and shelfs. Giant kelp and gorgonians are plentiful. Occasionally you'll spot abalone, giant sea bass, and maybe a cormorant. Drive North from Santa Barbara and Goleta on US 101. 2.8 miles past the entrance to Refugio State Park, make a U-turn at the turnaround, watching of oncoming traffic. Pull into the turnout on the right. Look for trains, then cross the tracks and carefully walk to the beach. Make a careful surf entry.

IntermediateMax depth 65.6 ftShore entry
No photos yet
10

Point Bennett

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island

seals and sea lions West of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 65.6 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
11

South Point

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Abalone, garaboldi, horn sharks, sea lions Southern side of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 59.1 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
12

Black Point

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island

Kelp, Calico Bass, Garaboldi, Ling Cod and sheepshead Western Side of Santa Cruz Island

BeginnerMax depth 45.9 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
13

East Point

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Sea lions, Sheepshead, Calico bass, Horn sharks and Pelagics Eastern side of Santa Roas Island

BeginnerMax depth 39.4 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
14

Bee Rock

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Kelp, calico bass, sheepheads, Gariboldi, lingcod, abalone, nudibranchs and sea Lions West Side of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 55.8 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
15

Talcott Shoal

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Big Lobsters, Sea Lions some pelagics North West of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 29.5 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
16

Gull Island

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island

Sea Lions, Sheepshead, Garaboldi and Calico Bass Southern Side of Santa Cruz Island

BeginnerMax depth 39.4 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
17

Ford Point

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Kelp, Abalone halibut and rays in the sand Southern side of Santa Rosa Island

BeginnerMax depth 29.5 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
18

Punta Arena

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz Island

Nudibranchs, Octopus and Sea Lions Southern Side of Santa Cruz Island

BeginnerMax depth 45.9 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
19

Pinnacles

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, Santa Rosa Island

Abalone, Scallops and sea lions Southeast side of Santa Rosa Island Pinnacles is also known as The Pinnacles, Eagles Nest.

BeginnerMax depth 59.1 ftBoat entry
No photos yet
20

Cuyler Harbor

No reviews yetUSA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island

Cuyler Harbor is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, California, Santa Barbara, San Miguel Island which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

IntermediateMax depth 49.2 ftBoat entry
Snorkeling & Scuba Map of Santa Barbara County: numbered map of the top 20 dive and snorkel sites, with ratings
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Numbers match the ranked list of Santa Barbara County dive and snorkel sites. Full map with key

Top dive shops in Santa Barbara County

All 2
Dive Santa Barbara
4.5 (211) · Santa Barbara
Book
Santa Barbara Aquatics
4.4 (52) · Goleta
Book

Santa Barbara County diving guide

Ready to check out the best sites in Santa Barbara County for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Zentacle has 32 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best dive and snorkel sites in Santa Barbara County?

Based on Zentacle reviews, the top-rated sites in Santa Barbara County are Refugio State Beach (4.5 from 18 reviews), Mesa (3.0 from 1 review) and Coal oil point (3.0 from 1 review).

Where is the best snorkeling for beginners in Santa Barbara County?

The top-rated beginner sites are Mesa (3.0 from 1 review) and Coal oil point (3.0 from 1 review).

Where can I shore dive in Santa Barbara County?

Refugio State Beach, Mesa and Coal oil point are the top-rated sites you can enter from shore.

Are there dive shops in Santa Barbara County?

Zentacle lists 2 dive shops in Santa Barbara County. The top-rated are Dive Santa Barbara (4.5 from 211 reviews) and Santa Barbara Aquatics (4.4 from 52 reviews).