Your excursion begins at Lover's Cove where your instructor will orientate you with your equipment, describe proper snorkeling techniques and explain important safety procedures.

At this point, your snorkeling equipment will be issued to you. The equipment provided on this tour includes a mask & snorkel set, fins, wetsuit and a snorkeling vest. Prescription masks and view rafts are available upon request.

Now the adventure begins! As you enter the water from shore, you'll begin to notice the diversity of marine life Catalina has to offer. Our instructors will teach you about Catalina's algae-based ecosystem and how it correlates to the fastest growing plant in the world...giant kelp. Keep in mind, this tour is not just a snorkeling tour, but also a marine eco-tour. One of our goals is to show you as much marine life as possible and we accomplish this in two ways. Your instructors will free-dive to the seafloor and gather marine animals and bring them up to the surface for display and to pass around. Sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, lobsters and sometimes an octopus are animals most commonly located. Also, your instructors feed the fish food during the tour so you're able to witness a "feeding frenzy". Imagine snorkeling with hundreds of fish just an arm's reach away! Some of the more common fish viewed: Garibaldi, sheephead, calico bass, senorita fish, blacksmith, opaleye and kelp fish.

After 45 minutes of snorkeling, it's now time to exit the water, hand in your equipment and dry off!

Please allow approximately 90 minutes for the tour and reservations are required.

The price for this tour is $45.00 per person.

Equipment rentals. Click here for details.

Click here to view the map.

Lover's cove is a snorkeler's paradise...the best in Southern California!

The Lover's Cove Marine Preserve is a marine sanctuary protected by the State of California for decades! Lover's Cove is host to clean, clear waters, free of mainland pollution and surf. The cove's undersea gardens harbor dozens of species of fish and invertebrates. Bright orange Garibaldi, bold as their coloring, will eat right out of your hand.

Catalina Dive Shop is located in the heart of the Lover's Cove Preserve.

The Lover's Cove Marine Preserve is a few minutes walk from the center of town next to the boat landing.