Skip to content
Map of Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island)
Add the first photo
Boat entry

Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island)

California, United States
Open Water suggested6–20 m (20–65 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island) at a glance

Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island) is a boat dive site in California, United States with depths of 6.1–19.8 m (20–65 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Harbor seal, Nudibranch, and California sea lion. Recent reports put the water around 22°C (72°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: tomorrow 8:00–19:00 · favorable

Forecast for this hour · 22:00 · run under 1 h ago
0.6 m (2.1 ft)waves — under a meter expected (waves — about two feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 22°C · seasonal avg 19°C ( · Forecast 72°F · seasonal avg 65°F)

Site hazards: Kelp entanglement, boat and kayak traffic around the pier and anchorage, cold water, remote location (nearest recompression and EMS are on the mainland)

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

SunNo window

0.6 m waves · 5 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Mon8:00–19:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 13 kn wind (3.0 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Tue8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 6 kn wind (2.5 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 5 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 4 kn wind (2.0 ft waves · 4 kn wind)

Sat8:00–19:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.1 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:46 · Sunrise 7:11 · Sunset 18:12 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 6.4 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 22:27 GMT-7

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Scorpion Anchorage (Santa Cruz Island)

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Nudibranch, California sea lion, Gorgonian sea fan
Best time: Summer and fall for calmer seas and 30-50 ft visibility

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (58°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  2. February, 54% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  3. March, 47% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 13°C (56°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  4. April, 74% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  5. May, 76% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 15°C (60°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  6. June, 86% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (63°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  7. July, 99% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (67°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.7 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.8 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  9. September, 82% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.8 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  10. October, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (65°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  11. November, 70% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 17°C (62°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  12. December, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (61°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots

July has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

The main landing and most-dived area on eastern Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, with rebounding giant kelp forest wrapping from the anchorage around Cavern Point. Popular spots include Scorpion's Rock (20-50 ft of kelp, gorgonians and invertebrates) and the wreck of the Spirit of America sitting upright on sand at about 65 ft outside the anchorage. The area is inside the no-take Scorpion State Marine Reserve.

boatreefshorewreck

Kelp entanglement, boat and kayak traffic around the pier and anchorage, cold water, remote location (nearest recompression and EMS are on the mainland)

Reviews

No reviews yet — this site is waiting for its first. Dived here? Your rating and a few lines help the next diver.

Spot something off?

Help keep this listing accurate for the next diver.