Where: Kelpcutter Wreck and Exploring
Depart from: Channel Islands Harbor, Oxnard
When:  Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024
Time: Boarding at 6:00 am, departing at 7:00 am and back to dock at 4:00 pm.
Cost: $225.00 includes 3 dives, hot lunch, water & air fills including FREE nitrox-Limited to 6 divers 

ALL TRIPS are weather-dependent

If you have any questions, please get in touch with Ken at

info@channelislandsdiveadventures.com or call (805) 469-7288

   The KopcoStar was built at Terminal Island (San Pedro) in 1952 and measured 51.6’ long, 27.3 in the beam, 4.8 in-depth, and powered by 4 diesel engines with a rating of 900hp. It was owned by the Kopco Star Co. of Los Angeles and was a kelpcutter that operated out of the Kopco kelp processing facility in Pt. Hueneme (Ventura County) harvesting kelp from Pt. Hueneme to Pt. Conception. On October 1, 1963, at around 10:00 pm she listed to port shortly after taking on a heavy load of kelp and sunk about 6 miles offshore from Pt. Hueneme. There was almost no warning, preventing the crew from making a radio call for help and luckily everyone was rescued. 

 Today, the Kopco Star sits on a sandy bottom in a westerly direction at a depth of 85’ with an average visibility of about 10’-20’. Measuring about 25 x 60, it is a very picturesque dive. The bow area is where the kelp would have come up and over into the ship and it stands about 10’ high and is home to many fish and scallops. The stern is home to 4 diesel engines and props, an adult wolf eel, and more fish; it stands about 6’-8’ high. There is a slight list to port with the starboard side about 3’-4’ high. 

 The other sites we will explore will vary depending on conditions. As far as other local wrecks there are 50’-60’ fishing boats, 30’-40’ sailboats along with the La Jannelle pieces. There are also some assorted wrecked manmade structures to explore. Most of the depths will range from 50’-100’ with visibility of 10’-40’. 

 One very interesting note is the Kopco Star was used in the Sea Hunt episode “Magnetic Mine”.

The Kelpcutter video-courtesy of Kevin & Liz Sullivan

Read more about the Kopco Star and the newspaper article on her sinking.

 Advanced divers and above that have experience in cold water conditions including; current, swell, possible limited visibility and deep water. Most importantly, good buoyancy control is needed and surface signal tubes are always recommended. 

 The DV Triton is 40′ x 12′ in size and set up for only six divers. It’s a new-to-dive trips around the Channel Islands, local wrecks, and awesome coastal diving, and gives divers choices they never had before. The owner of the DV Triton, Danny Graham, has been diving for years as a recreational, Tech and rebreather diver. A few years back, he went from working for Nuvair to owning a boat doing commercial urchin diving and removing old nets and lobster cages. Mid 2023 Danny received his captain’s license and license to operate the boat for six divers. Now, Danny can operate the boat for a multitude of work and keep doing what he loves.  If you are an Experienced Advanced Diver or above and are looking for something different than the usual diving, the DV Triton is for you. 

 Where the Triton lacks creature comforts, it makes up for it with speed, tank fills, and the ability to do things and dive locations you can not with other dive operators. For tank fills, there is a 3500 PSI compressor with banked 35% Nitrox and the ability to do custom Nitrox mixes and supply 100% 02. It is best to bring your tank full for the first dive, and then for the second and third dives, you can get Nitrox fills for free. Read more about the DV Triton HERE.