Painted Cave
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Painted Cave sits on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands off Santa Barbara, California. It is one of the largest known sea caves in the world, named for the colorful lichen, algae, and mineral streaks on its walls, and boat tours and kayakers enter it regularly from the calmer months into the interior chamber. For divers, the site is rated beginner with a maximum depth of around 3 metres, keeping the underwater portion shallow even as the cave itself extends well back into the cliff.
AI overviewMarine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Bat StarPatiria miniataReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea UrchinMesocentrotus franciscanusReported here · unconfirmed
Pacific Purple Sea UrchinStrongylocentrotus purpuratusReported here · unconfirmed
Warty sea cucumberApostichopus parvimensisReported here · unconfirmed
Kelp BassParalabrax clathratusReported here · unconfirmed
Blacksmith ChromisChromis punctipinnisReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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