Santa Barbara Island is located 55 miles from Ventura County and is a great location for a few day visit to enjoy island kayaking, snorkeling and camping with friends. Santa Barbara Island is the smallest of the eight California Channel Islands. The island is home to a large sea lion rookery and several seabird nesting colonies. The boat ride to Santa Barbara Island from Ventura Harbor is about 2.5-3 hours long. Here are some photos from an afternoon snorkeling exploration trip.
Water temperatures around the Channel Islands vary from 50-60°F, with the warmer temperatures generally occurring in August and September.
Santa Barbara Island has a few coves that are great for snorkeling and best accessed by kayak.
Channel Islands National Park with the surrounding Marine Sanctuary has beautiful kelp forests with numerous fish and invertebrates.