Painted Cave (Santa Cruz Island)
La profondeur indique la plage entre le sommet du site et son maximum habituel ; le « niveau de certification recommandé » correspond au niveau généralement demandé par les opérateurs selon les agences grand public, et non à une règle légale. Les courants et la visibilité varient chaque jour — considérez toutes ces informations comme des estimations de planification.
Painted Cave is one of the largest sea caves on earth, running roughly 380 m into the volcanic cliffs of Santa Cruz Island, its entrance walls streaked with the mineral and algal colors that named it. Diving happens at and just inside the vast mouth - a cathedral doorway where kelp frames blue light and sea lions rocket in and out, using the cave as clubhouse and echo chamber. The walls carry anemones and nudibranchs in the low light; seals occasionally haul into the dark interior, which belongs to kayakers on flat days and to no one when swell runs. Divers stay within sight of daylight, listen to the boom of the surge deeper in, and leave the far darkness alone.
Le moment pour lequel vous venez: A monumental sea-cave entrance, sea lion flybys in the beam of blue light
Topographie: Sea-cave entrance and walls dropping to boulder floor, kelp at the mouth
Courant: Surge, not current, is the ruling force - the cave amplifies any swell.
À savoir avant de plonger
Dangers: Surge amplification in the cave, overhead environment beyond the daylight zone, boat and kayak traffic at the mouth.
Conservation: Within the national park and sanctuary waters; disturbance of hauled-out pinnipeds is prohibited.
Qui vous croiserez
Pour les photographes
Grand angle: ★★★★★ · Macro: ★★☆☆☆ — note 1–5 des éditeurs sur ce que ce site offre à chaque style de prise de vue