Bechers Bay is the sole access point to Santa Rosa Island, a small undeveloped island located off the coast of Santa Barbara and part of Channel Islands National Park. Santa Barbara Island allows for camping and outdoor exploration.
Southeast Anchorage, 1.3 miles W of Skunk Point, affords protection in SE weather in about 6 fathoms, sandy bottom. Northwest Anchorage, in the W part of the bight and 1.5 miles S from Carrington Point, affords fair shelter in NW weather.
Navigation:
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Santa Rosa Island, 24.5 miles SW of Goleta Point on the mainland, is 15 miles long in a W direction and has a greatest width of nearly 10 miles. No landing fee or permit is required.
The highest point, near the middle of the island, is 1,589 feet high and visible over 40 miles. The island has some water and is partially covered with vegetation. The shores are bold, high, and rocky; kelp surrounds most of the island. Depths in the approaches to the island shoal more abruptly from S than from N, where the 100-fathom curve is over 5 miles and the 20-fathom curve about 2 miles from the beach.
There are no harbors, but anchorage may be made in Bechers Bay and Johnsons Lee. There are several good boat landings and a pier near Northwest Anchorage.
Bechers Bay, a broad semicircular bight on the NE side of Santa Rosa Island, is 4.5 miles wide between Skunk and Carrington Points and 1.5 miles in depth.
A naval operating area is in Bechers Bay. Anti-ship mining operations take place at frequent and irregular intervals, including weekends, throughout the year. They are conducted as air drops from low-flying aircraft or released from submarines. Submerged metallic remains from these operations may pose a hazard to fishing operations conducted along the seabed.
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