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Catalina Island Semi-Submarine: Underwater Viewing Adventure
4.4
540 Ratings
Avalon
Dive into Catalina’s underwater world on the SS Nautilus semi-submarine. Experience marine life up close without getting wet. Book your adventure now!
Dive into Catalina’s underwater world on the SS Nautilus semi-submarine. Experience marine life up close without getting wet. Book your adventure now!
Duration:
45 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Catalina Adventure Tours - Explore the Catalina Island’s amazing undersea gardens by venturing on an exploratory mission aboard the semi-submersible SS Nautilus. Designed after the USS Nautilus, America’s first nuclear powered submarine, this 45-minute 6-feet underwater journey departs from the Green Pier and will cruise to a marine preserved…
- Catalina Adventure Tours - Explore the Catalina Island’s amazing undersea gardens by venturing on an exploratory mission aboard the semi-submersible SS Nautilus. Designed after the USS Nautilus, America’s first nuclear powered submarine, this 45-minute 6-feet underwater journey departs from the Green Pier and will cruise to a marine preserved sanctuary known as the Lovers’ Cove. Equipped with torpedo buttons, adventurers can create a feeding frenzy right from their viewing porthole for an additional charge. On the way back to the marina, enjoy breathtaking harbor views on the top deck of the submarine. Weather permitting, undersea garden tours depart hourly year round from mid-morning until an hour before sunset. **we highly suggest you secure transportation to Catalina island prior to booking tour to confirm you can get to the tour as the boat to the island sells out quickly. Catalina Express or Newport Flyer for your transportation needs.
What's Included
- English guide
- English guide
What's Not Included
- Fish food offered at additional charge during tour. Cash only.
- Travel To Catalina Island is not included in ticket price. Tour is located on Catalina Island.
- Transportation needed by Ferry to Island -Catalina express or Newport Flyer to get to Island.
- Fish food offered at additional charge during tour. Cash only.
- Travel To Catalina Island is not included in ticket price. Tour is located on Catalina Island.
- Transportation needed by Ferry to Island -Catalina express or Newport Flyer to get to Island.
Additional Information
Come aboard Catalina Island’s newest semi-submarine, the SS Nautilus, and enjoy a deep sea adventure 1,000 leagues beyond your imagination. The main attraction of this unique vessel allows six feet underwater viewing while staying dry so eager seafarers can get up close and face-to-face with schools of fish anticipating treats fired away from custom…
Come aboard Catalina Island’s newest semi-submarine, the SS Nautilus, and enjoy a deep sea adventure 1,000 leagues beyond your imagination. The main attraction of this unique vessel allows six feet underwater viewing while staying dry so eager seafarers can get up close and face-to-face with schools of fish anticipating treats fired away from custom designed fish food torpedo buttons. Designed after America’s first nuclear powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, the 45-minute journey is the destination itself as our captain and his crew ventures out on an exploratory mission to the undersea gardens of Avalon Bay.
- We are located on Catalina Island, You must secure transportation to the island to take the tour. There are no refunds if you miss the tour
- Not wheelchair accessible. Due to uneven surfaces, this tour is not recommended for those with walking disabilities or using a wheelchair
- Your tickets will be held at the will-call window for collection on the day of the tour.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infants (2 years old and under) must be ticketed on a USCG vessel; fare is free-of-charge but fees apply
- You MUST arrive 15 minutes prior to boarding to check in. We leave promptly at the scheduled time and cannot wait. When booking travel to the island please make sure to give enough time from arrival to island to get to tour departure location.
- Late Policy: The Nautilus expedition departs from only one location. If you arrive late, we are not able to provide you with a refund. Our tours are scheduled to provide you with the best experience possible, and we are not able to make any exceptions if you are late.
Location
Green Pleasure Pier
Welcome to Catalina! Find us at the Green Pleasure Pier. Check in at our booth at the end of the pier—our ride boards just behind it! Bring your sense of adventure!
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.4
(540 Ratings)
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Michelle_r
Mar 24, 2026
Fun activity of seeing... - Fun activity of seeing fish. Kids had a good time feeding (bring cash) the fish and seeing all the underwater activity.
Review provided by Viator
Allison_l
Mar 19, 2026
Great tour - This was very fun, it’s not just for kids, my husband and I had a great time, it wasn’t too long or too short just right. And very fun being under water seeing all the fish I would highly recomend
Review provided by Viator
Z7610orjosepha
Feb 19, 2026
Great excursion to explore your inner kiddo and enjoy viewing schools of fish - Cute little excursion if you are visiting Catalina , where you view 3 areas where local fish school. 5 minute easy walk from the tender port.
Found the vendor via Viator 12:45pm departure , be there by 12:30 , was a relaxed, comfortable 45 minutes cruise with a view below water level.
Bought 3 fish food shots for $5.
Weather in the 80’s it was a cool experience checking out the fish.
Easy walk from the tender port, with the vendor both located at mid pier where you can obtain your admittance ticket, and mooring location at the end of pier where there are some comfortable benches.
Submarine was cool and comfortable, and this all adult sailing had many of us reveling in our inner kiddo.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joseph_a
Feb 19, 2026
We explored our Inner Kiddo , was a blast - Customer service booth, and sailing pier was just a short walk from the tender port, but still give yourself some time to walk over to the neighboring pier.
Customer service / vendor booth is about 1/2 way up the pier and displays their iconic yellow submarine. Staff were great to interact with and produced a ticket for my admission. Vessels are entered at the end of the pier where there are some benches.
The excursion was maybe 1/2 full and all adults, but we embraced our inner kiddos allowing ourselves to openly get excited as we encountered the schools of fish spread out across 3 locations.
Catalina was in the high 80’s but our viewing area below the water level was cool and comfortable.
Though not probably needed many of us purchased feed torpedos, I bought 3 for $5, a nominal sum in my opinion. Upon firing food would be projected out above my window resulting in a frenzy of feeding.
I wanted a low activity excursion, and for me it was a nice way to explore the bay for an hour. I mentioned the excursion the evening before at my shared MDR table, and a couple I dinned with took an earlier slot and also enjoyed it. It’s easy to recommend.
Review provided by Viator
Nancy_c
Jan 22, 2026
A must do - I was sooo amazing and our host Marcus was great! The views were amazing and so relaxing to see all the natural sea life
Review provided by Viator
Natalie_m
Jan 17, 2026
A definite must do - I love sealife, so this was right up my alley! It was awesome blasting food out for the fish and watching them go on a feeding frenzy. That totally tickled me.
Review provided by Viator
Madelin_g
Jan 13, 2026
Good experience - Overall a good experience. Marcus was really friendly and good to check on everyone. My kids loved it. I do wish it was a little longer to see a wider variety of fish, but with people getting sea sick I can see why not. Overall we enjoyed it
Review provided by Viator
Amy_g
Jan 10, 2026
Great way to experience wildlife! - What a great way to see wildlife! Our guide was knowledgeable and passionate about the sea. It was the perfect amount of time and I enjoyed going to the top of the sub for the ride back to port. My 9 year old enjoyed this adventure. Everyone on the sub seemed to be enjoying themselves. Feeding the fish was super fun!
Review provided by Viator
Viki_y
Jan 14, 2026
Skip buying the fish food. - It was fun but the fish food is over priced. If you think you’ll miss out if you don’t purchase it the fish swarm the entire “sub” when others are feeding them. Save your cash.
Review provided by Viator
Hanser2020
Feb 8, 2026
Bait & Swap - Called me 20 days before the tour. They said the sub is not available you can have the glass bottom boat. No notice through TripAdvisor. Just a phone call. All the other tours in the area are now booked. Disgusted.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
