Yellow Semi-Submarine Tour of Catalina Island From Avalon
Overview
Available languages
45 minutes
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
English guide
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.
What To Expect
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.
Options
45-Minute Semi-Submarine Tour
Reviews
429 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Great ocean tour!
William D,
Jun 3, 2025
- Viator
5.00Great views of the sea life. Enjoyed it more than I expected. Out tour guide Brad was awesome and very entertaining
Great views of the fish...
Terry H,
Jun 3, 2025
- Viator
4.00Great views of the fish and my son loved feeds the fish 🐟 🐠 via the torpedo buttons. It was a great alternative to snorkeling in freezing water.
Jo and her crew were...
Ava C,
Jun 1, 2025
- Viator
5.00Jo and her crew were GREAT! We had the best time and this is a must if you’re visiting Catalina island. They took us to the best spots and we saw so many fish, it was awesome. Crew is very knowledgeable and fun, we recommend!
Singing Boat Guide, Great Family Fun!
Chelsea R,
May 20, 2025
- Viator
4.00Tour guide/marine biologist Jill was amazing and gave clear instructions to keep us all safe and make the journey fun. She was a wealth of ocean/fish knowledge and sang fun jingles along the way to make it a really fun ride. Captain Rich was a fun guy in our brief interaction upon exciting the sub. He did a great job driving us into kelp forests and gave ample time at each stop to enjoy the Marine life. Would recommend this to anyone who enjoys aquariums and wants a unique, DRY, underwater experience. Perfect for those cold days in Catalina when it's still a bit too chilly for snorkeling and even warm days for a cool, shaded ride. Additionally, Luke at Catalina Adventures was kind and a great conversationalist. My husband wasn't able to attend due to getting sick on the ship and they gave us a full refund for his ticket. The only thing that would've made it better is if I knew about buying fish food ahead of time and if they played "Yellow Submarine" by The Beatles. Thanks again!!!
A Fun Experience to View Fish Up Close
Jaquelyn T,
May 17, 2025
- Viator
5.00My husband and I have been on semisubmersible submarines before and enjoy the 45 minute experience each time. It's especially fun when we can buy food that is "torpedoed" out to them by hitting a big button on the sub where we are sitting. We went to three locations and saw mostly the same fish, but it was still exciting to see them up close. Captain Rich drove the sub and Jill was our incredible tour guide. She knew a lot about the fish and ocean where they took us. We went up on deck on our return so we could view the island before we arrived back at the dock. All ages would enjoy this excursion, except those with mobility issues. There are somewhat steep steps to go down into the sube, but not as steep as a ladder. I was able to slowly navigate down and up them going slowly since my knees aren't the greatest. This is not a handicap accessible excursion. So, don't book it if you need that type of assistance to navigate.
Related Experiences
Operated by Catalina Adventure Tours