DiveJourneyDiveJourney

Wildlife · Destination Guide

Channel Islands

Cold water kelp forests, sea caves, and wild islands close to California yet worlds apart

Updated Nov 21, 2025 • 7 sources

View On Map

Wildlife In Channel Islands

Browse the full species list linked to approved dive spots in Channel Islands.

gray snake photography
Rays

Moray Eel

14 linked spots

Photo of Grouper/Basslets
Saltwater Fishes

Grouper/Basslets

11 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in the water
Saltwater Fishes

Barracuda

9 linked spots

Gestreifter Adlerrochen ( Pteromylaeus bovinus )
Rays

Eagle Ray

8 linked spots

a fish swimming in water
Saltwater Fishes

Parrotfish

8 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in some water
Saltwater Fishes

Angelfish

7 linked spots

Green sea turtle ( Chelonia mydas ), Moorea, French Polynesia
Turtles

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

6 linked spots

Photo of Octopus
Molluscs

Octopus

6 linked spots

brown turtle in sea
Turtles

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

4 linked spots

Photo of Jackfish
Saltwater Fishes

Jackfish

4 linked spots

Photo of Snapper
Saltwater Fishes

Snapper

4 linked spots

green and black fish in body of water
Rays

Stingrays

4 linked spots

A fish that is sitting in the sand
Saltwater Fishes

Butterfly Fish

3 linked spots

a blue and yellow fish on a coral reef
Saltwater Fishes

Damselfish

3 linked spots

Red lionfish (Pterois volitans) near Gilli Banta Island (near Komodo, Indonesia)
Saltwater Fishes

Lionfish

3 linked spots

Photo of Shrimp
Crustaceans

Shrimp

3 linked spots

Photo of Squid
Molluscs

Squid

3 linked spots

Photo of Surgeonfish
Saltwater Fishes

Surgeonfish

Acanthuridae

3 linked spots

Photo of Sweetlips and Grunts
Saltwater Fishes

Sweetlips and Grunts

3 linked spots

Photo of Tuna
Saltwater Fishes

Tuna

3 linked spots

Photo of Wrasse
Saltwater Fishes

Wrasse

3 linked spots

crab on rock
Crustaceans

Crab

2 linked spots

a close up of a sea anemone on the ocean floor
Saltwater Fishes

Frogfish

2 linked spots

Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) Image ID: corl0207, NOAA's Coral Kingdom Collection Location: Pacific Remote Islands, Kingman Reef Photo Date: 2015 Photographer: Kevin Lino NOAA/NMFS/PIFSC/ESD
Sharks

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

2 linked spots

a blue and white fish in an aquarium
Saltwater Fishes

Triggerfish

2 linked spots

Photo of Trumpetfish
Saltwater Fishes

Trumpetfish

2 linked spots

Photo of Common Seahorse
Seahorses and Pipefishes

Common Seahorse

Hippocampus kuda

1 linked spot

Photo of Goatfish
Saltwater Fishes

Goatfish

1 linked spot

white shark under blue sky
Sharks

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

1 linked spot

Photo of Loggerhead Turtle
Turtles

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

1 linked spot

Photo of Nudibranch
Molluscs

Nudibranch

1 linked spot

Photo of Pipefish
Seahorses and Pipefishes

Pipefish

1 linked spot

Photo of Pygmy Seahorse
Seahorses and Pipefishes

Pygmy Seahorse

1 linked spot

Silky shark ( Carcharhinus falciformis ) at Jardines de la Reina, Cuba
Sharks

Silky Shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

1 linked spot

Photo of Tarpon
Saltwater Fishes

Tarpon

1 linked spot