Sea Sabres
Dive
Spots
Sutil Pass
By Dale Sheckler
Sutil
Pass is a narrow pinch point between two land masses—Santa Barbara Island
proper and the large rock Sutil Island. Only about 600 yards separate the shorelines
but the water underneath holds reefs, kelp and abundance of marine life. The
pinch point is a short-cut for marine life heading around the island and there
is a lot of traffic.
Like much of Santa Barbara Island, you can’t help but notice the barking of sea lions ashore. While the sea lions are not as numerous here as other parts of the island, this is an ideal spot for underwater photography of the dancing marine mammals as there is a small kelp forest close to the island that provides an excellent backdrop and clear water. The juveniles also seem friskier here than other parts of the island.
During
summer and late summer bat rays accumulate in the channel, sometimes en mass.
It is thought to be a mating congregation and sometimes you can catch two rays
swimming in tandem through the kelp in a beautiful ballet.
In
the channel the water is 30 to 70 feet deep with scattered reefs. On these
reefs is a nice aggregation of marine life to please any sightseer or
photographer. Often blacksmith fish seem to be like a blizzard of big black
flakes twitching in the breezes. Rockfish in a variety of shapes, colors and
patterns dot the reef. Kelp comes and goes on these reefs in the channel but
there always seems to be kelp bass. The sand between the channels has been
known to hold a good sized halibut. Hunting in this area is quite good.
And
this is a decent spot for invertebrate observation. Urchins are everywhere
(which could explain why the kelp is sometimes missing as urchins eat kelp).
Sea stars are colorful and abundant. Nudibranchs are not prolific but present.
This is a good spot for lobster.
Better
yet for lobster are the wash rocks near the island. It is not unusual for a 8,
9 or 10 pounder to come out of these rocks each dive trip. You may have to
contend with white water and surge but you will see lobster.
Dive
Spot At - A - Glance
Location:
Southwest corner of Santa Barbara Island between main island and the small
islet, Sutil Island.
Access:
Boat only.
Depths:
20 to 70 feet.
Skill
Level: All.
Snorkeling:
Fun in kelp with sea lions near main island.
Photography:
Wide-angle best in small kelp near main island for sea lion and bat ray photos.
Macro fair.
Hunting:
Good for lobster in and around rocks near main island. Some small lobster in
reefs at center of pass. Fair to good halibut hunting in sand channels between
reef in center of pass.
Hazards:
Currents can come up occasionally.
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updated September 16, 2003