Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop - California
The team at Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop are more than just a dive shop crew; they’re the heart of Santa Barbara’s underwater scene. For decades, they’ve been the local go-to for anyone keen to get wet, whether that’s with a tank on your back or just a mask and fins. We love their deep roots in the community and it really shines through in their personalised approach. This isn't some faceless chain; it feels like walking into your buddy's gear room, only way better organised. If you’re anywhere near Santa Barbara and looking to learn, this is where we’d send you. They offer a solid Open Water course, but our favourite has to be their Freediving Class. There’s something special about learning to hold your breath from people who genuinely live and breathe the ocean. They also run a "BWH Ocean Fishing Academy", which tells you a lot about their local knowledge and expertise. Expect honest advice on conditions, and probably a few stories about what's been moving through the kelp forest. It’s the kind of place where you buy a mask and walk out with a new set of friends and a tide chart marked with the best times to spot nudibranchs.
- Location
- California, United States, North America
- Coordinates
- 34.403748, -119.693510
- Phone
- +1-805-294-0013
- [email protected]
- Website
- https://blueh20.com/
- Courses
- Freediving Class, Open Water Diver Course, Scuba Diving Course, BWH Ocean Fishing Academy
- Equipment Rental
- no
- Address
- 117, Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, 93109
Dive Sites Near Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop
Blue Water Hunter Dive Shop provides access to 15 dive sites in California.
Other Dive Centres in California
- Adventure Sports Unlimited - PADI
- Adventure West Scuba - PADI
- Aloha Scuba
- Anderson's SCUBA diving
- Any Water Dive Center - PADI, DAN
- Aquanautics Dive, Inc - ["PADI"]
- Aquarius Dive Shop
- Aqua Safaris - EFR, DAN
- Aqua Sports
- ASD Scuba School
Best Time to Dive in California
The warmest water temperatures in California occur in August, averaging 20.6°C (up to 24.0°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 14.0°C.
The calmest sea conditions are typically in July with average wave heights of 0.60m.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 14.4°C (air: 14.0°C)
- February: 14.0°C (air: 13.8°C)
- March: 14.2°C (air: 13.3°C)
- April: 14.9°C (air: 14.3°C)
- May: 16.6°C (air: 15.4°C)
- June: 18.9°C (air: 17.4°C)
- July: 20.4°C (air: 18.9°C)
- August: 20.6°C (air: 19.6°C)
- September: 20.4°C (air: 19.7°C)
- October: 18.8°C (air: 18.4°C)
- November: 16.3°C (air: 16.0°C)
- December: 15.6°C (air: 14.3°C)
Marine Life in California
Home to 10 recorded species including 8 reef fish, 1 other, 1 octopus & squid.
Notable Marine Life
- Vernal Pool Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta lynchi)
- Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) - Reef Fish
- Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) - Reef Fish
- Sea Trout (Salmo trutta) - Reef Fish
- Little post horn squid (Spirula spirula) - Octopus & Squid
- Prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) - Reef Fish
- cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii) - Reef Fish
- Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) - Reef Fish
- Ribbonfish (Lepidopus caudatus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for California
Based on average water temperature of 17.1°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories