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 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.
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.
Options
45-Minute Semi-Submarine Tour
Reviews
531 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
The best way to see the local Catalina sea life without a wetsuit!
Jeanne B,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Marcus and Dave were great! I highly recommend buying the 8-pack of fish food - the fish KNOW it's there and you'll see SO MANY more fish if you participate! Marcus gave us a lot of interesting information about the local sea life and was very friendly - he offered to take photos of us in the sub, which was really nice, and we now have pics of us with a window full of fish behind us - so cool! This is a must-do when visiting Catalina, whether you're on a date, with kids, or with a group of friends/coworkers.
Don't miss yellow, submarine!
debrabD7500UD,,Dec 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We all had a wonderful time learning about the submarine, the kelp, the types of fish, and their environment. The yellow submarine team is terrific. We recommend it highly!
Great for toddlers
Eric S,,Dec 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Really fun way to spend 45 mins, especially with young kids! Prepare accordingly if you are at all susceptible to motion sickness.
A beautiful experience!
laurentK488DF,,Dec 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was such a cool experience! I’m afraid of the ocean and was a little nervous to get on the Nautilus, but after seeing how spacious it was inside, I felt better. Once we settled in and started seeing the fish and kelp forests, I was hooked. It was such a beautiful and relaxing experience. Our guide, Brad, was open to questions about the fish and was very knowledgeable. He even helped us pick a good window! This was seriously such a cool experience, I can’t wait to come back and do this again and try their other tours.
Great experience in that...
Brian B,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience in that fun Sub and saw TONS of fish and kelp! I'd definitely recommend it to my friends. =)
Excelente 🤙
Elizabeth D,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Awesome experience!! A ton of fish!! Friendly and knowledgeable staff. If you can go on a non cruise ship port date you might get the whole submarine to yourselves like we did.
Yellow submarine
Angelisa J,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Was So much fun even though I can't swim I wasnt afraid . Beautiful scenery and large schools of fish
Not really a nuclear sub
Scott S,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00S7 is a bad window-foggy. S6 is fantastic. Employee are great. Nuclear reactor and dive computers are likely fake, but fish are real (unlike at Disneyland) and great to see
Fun
Barbara B,,Dec 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The ride is fun. They do ask you to spend an extra $20 per family to feed the fish using "food torpedoes" once you're aboard. Otherwise, professional and a fun excursion. The music soundtrack is great. Unfortunately, I was seated right behind a family whose 4-year old kept shouting "What the ****" and hitting the walls and shouting.
Pleasant
Go28283824944,,Dec 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I’d say this is a company who cares about their customers. They made our two little kids very happy and was willing to accommodate to kids needs, strongly recommend family with kids to try.
From US$53.00
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Operated by Catalina Adventure Tours