Whether you're on or in the water, Catalina offers crystal clear waters to swim and play. Get wet and experience the islands vast marine life or discover it from above by kayak or on a tour. Click on a category below for more information.
Explore Catalina's coastline and learn about the marine life environment along the way.
Sport fishing has been a legendary pursuit in the waters off Catalina Island for more than a century. Nowadays, Catalina based charter boats offer fishing trips for yellowtail, white sea bass, calico bass, shark, or marlin, to name a few. For the simple joy of fishing, you can also drop a line off the piers in town see what you can hook.
Flying fish return to Catalina Island waters every summer. The flying fish leap out of the water and soar at heights of up to 30 feet and glides for distances as long as ¼ mile. Flying Fish tours are offered every evening in the summer months.
Glass bottom boats were invented in Avalon. Enjoy the undersea marine life without getting wet on one of the popular glass bottom boat tours.
Kayaking is a great way to explore Catalina's rugged shoreline and secluded coves. You can rent kayaks or go on a kayaking tour, or make your adventure a multiple-day kayaking trip exploring the Island's perimeter. Either way, you'll discover a special connection with the ocean as you glide along, moving silently among the tops of the undulating kelp forests, becoming a part of the sea's ebb and flow.
Experience the world of power inflatables for a close to nature marine ride.
One of the first things you'll see when approaching the Island is the sky speckled with colorful para-sailers zipping through Avalon Harbor. For people who want to have beautiful coastal views and give their dare-devil side a thrill, try para-sailing.
Charter a sailboat and sail off for an exciting island exploration.
Catalina's naturally clean and clear waters, abundant marine life, giant kelp forests and diver-friendly services makes it a renowned dive destination that attracts expert and beginner divers alike. Several dive shops on the island offer everything from introductory dives and refresher course to certifications. Offshore diving and charter boat excursions are available as well as equipment sales and rentals.
New! Don a special diving helmet and walk along the underwater trail with towering kelp forests and abundant sea live. No diving experience is needed.
View the undersea world without getting wet by cruising in a modern semi-submersible vessel - a "submarine" that sits about five feet below the surface of the water. From the comfort of a climate-controlled cabin, looking out the porthole will give you a fisheye's view of the underwater residents.
Catalina Island's clear waters and coastal reefs are teeming with unique and colorful marine life! Islands Magazine ranks Catalina Island as one of the "Best of the World" snorkeling spots. Kelp forests and colorful garibaldi abound at Lover's Cove or almost any of the other coves around the island.
Experience snuba, a new tour offering on the island, combining snorkeling and scuba diving and does not require certification.
Try tubing the coastal waters of Catalina Island, Catalina's newest water adventure.
Two Harbors, on the western edge of the island is a restful boating paradise filled with land and water activities.
There are numerous ways to enjoy the water on Catalina. Rent a jetski, motorboat, kayak, pedal boat or paddle board.
From soaring bald eagles to stately buffalo, from diminutive foxes to enormous whales, Catalina Island offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities under the sea, on the land or in the air.
