Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary

1901 Spinnaker Drive
Ventura, CA 93001

Description

The Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary is one of only 13 marine sancturaries in the nation. Established to protect spectacular natural and cultural resources within its boundaries, this national park is an absolute paradise for sportfishing, wildlife viewing and is ranked as one of the top 10 diving destinations in the world! The sancturay is also home to an abundance of submergerd Chumash Native Amrican artifacts and the remains of more than 100 historic shipwrecks, which lie on the ocean floor within the sanctuary's boundaries.

The Channel Islands Visitor Center located in Ventura is fully accessible from 8:30 am until 5:00 pm daily (closed on Thanksgiving and December 25th). On weekends and holidays at 11 am and 3 pm rangers offer a variety of free public programs about the resources of the park. The visitor center features a bookstore, a display of marine aquatic life, and exhibits featuring the unique character of each park island.