Explore

Start Here
Dive Shop Directory
Countries
Destinations
Wildlife

Community

Overview
Events
Find Dive Buddies

Dive Shops

Dive Shop Directory
Add Your Dive Shop
Destination Partner Program

About

About DiveJourney
Articles
Feedback
Safety & Leave No Trace
Contact

Toggle menu

Dive Map
Start Here
Countries
Destinations
Wildlife
Community
Events
Find Dive Buddies
Dive Shop Directory
Add Your Dive Shop
Destination Partner Program
About DiveJourney
Articles
Feedback
Safety & Leave No Trace
Contact
What's New
App
Log in
Create Free Profile

Create Free Profile

Explore

Start Here
Dive Shops
Countries
Destinations
Wildlife

Community

Overview
Events
Find Dive Buddies

Dive Shops

Dive Shop Directory
Add Your Dive Shop
Destination Partner Program

About

About DiveJourney
Articles
Feedback
Safety & Leave No Trace
Contact

Toggle menu

Dive Map
Start Here
Countries
Destinations
Wildlife
Community
Events
Find Dive Buddies
Dive Shop Directory
Add Your Dive Shop
Destination Partner Program
About DiveJourney
Articles
Feedback
Safety & Leave No Trace
Contact
App
Log in
Create Free Profile

Create Free Profile

Global dive planning for scuba, freediving, and snorkeling.

Instagram X Facebook

Language:

English

Units:

Explore

Start Here
Global Dive Map
Countries
Destinations
Events
Wildlife
Dive Spots
Articles

Community

Community
Find Dive Buddies
About
Shiplog
Feedback
Mobile App
Safety & Leave No Trace
Dive Shops

Connect

Contact
Affiliate
Privacy
Terms

© 2026 DiveJourney · by John Potess

Channel Islands Marine Life & Wildlife Guide

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

Overview
Activities
Dive Spots
Dive Shops
Reviews
Wildlife
When To Go
Logistics
Fees
Safety
FAQs
Sources

Wildlife In Channel Islands

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

gray snake photography

Moray Eel

30 linked spots

Photo of Grouper/Basslets

saltwater-fishes

Grouper/Basslets

25 linked spots

Gestreifter Adlerrochen ( Pteromylaeus bovinus )

Eagle Ray

22 linked spots

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

Green Turtle

Chelonia mydas

17 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in the water

saltwater-fishes

Barracuda

16 linked spots

Photo of Snapper

saltwater-fishes

Snapper

15 linked spots

a fish swimming in water

saltwater-fishes

Parrotfish

14 linked spots

brown turtle in sea

Hawksbill Turtle

Eretmochelys imbricata

12 linked spots

green and black fish in body of water

Stingrays

12 linked spots

Photo of Wrasse

saltwater-fishes

Wrasse

12 linked spots

a fish that is swimming in some water

saltwater-fishes

Angelfish

10 linked spots

Photo of Jackfish

saltwater-fishes

Jackfish

9 linked spots

Photo of Octopus

Octopus

8 linked spots

A fish that is sitting in the sand

saltwater-fishes

Butterfly Fish

7 linked spots

gray shark in body of water

Nurse Shark

Ginglymostoma cirratum

7 linked spots

Photo of Shrimp

Shrimp

7 linked spots

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

saltwater-fishes

Lionfish

6 linked spots

Photo of Squid

Squid

6 linked spots

crab on rock

Crab

5 linked spots

Photo of Surgeonfish

saltwater-fishes

Surgeonfish

Acanthuridae

5 linked spots

a blue and white fish in an aquarium

saltwater-fishes

Triggerfish

5 linked spots

Photo of Common Seahorse

seahorses-and-pipefishes

Common Seahorse

Hippocampus kuda

4 linked spots

a blue and yellow fish on a coral reef

saltwater-fishes

Damselfish

4 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

Grey Reef Shark

Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos

4 linked spots

Photo of Nudibranch

Nudibranch

4 linked spots

Photo of Pipefish

seahorses-and-pipefishes

Pipefish

4 linked spots

Photo of Sweetlips and Grunts

saltwater-fishes

Sweetlips and Grunts

4 linked spots

Photo of Flounder

saltwater-fishes

Flounder

3 linked spots

Photo of Goatfish

saltwater-fishes

Goatfish

3 linked spots

Photo of Scorpionfish

saltwater-fishes

Scorpionfish

Scorpaenidae

3 linked spots

Photo of Tuna

saltwater-fishes

Tuna

3 linked spots

a close up of a sea anemone on the ocean floor

saltwater-fishes

Frogfish

2 linked spots

Photo of Loggerhead Turtle

Loggerhead Turtle

Caretta caretta

2 linked spots

Photo of Porcupinefish

saltwater-fishes

Porcupinefish

2 linked spots

Photo of Pufferfish

saltwater-fishes

Pufferfish

Tetraodontidae

2 linked spots

Photo of Tarpon

saltwater-fishes

Tarpon

2 linked spots

Photo of Trumpetfish

saltwater-fishes

Trumpetfish

2 linked spots

a yellow and black spotted fish in an aquarium

saltwater-fishes

Boxfish

Ostraciidae (family)

1 linked spots

orange and white clown fish

saltwater-fishes

Clownfish

1 linked spots

Photo of Eel

saltwater-fishes

Eel

1 linked spots

white shark under blue sky

Great Hammerhead Shark

Sphyrna mokarran

1 linked spots

Photo of Ocean Sunfish

saltwater-fishes

Ocean Sunfish

Mola mola

1 linked spots

Photo of Pygmy Seahorse

seahorses-and-pipefishes

Pygmy Seahorse

1 linked spots

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

Silky Shark

Carcharhinus falciformis

1 linked spots