Into the Blue: Marine Diversity of the Santa Barbara Channel

Santa Barbara, CA — The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) will host Adam Ernster, wildlife cameraman and naturalist, as part of its Maritime Distinguished Speaker Series on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. His talk, “Marine Diversity & Abundances throughout the Santa Barbara Channel,” will focus on the spectrum of marine life along the Santa Barbara coast and examine the Channel’s role in ocean ecosystems. A pre-lecture reception for SBMM members will take place from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m. Killer Whale. Credit: Adam Ernster. Tickets are available at no cost for Navigators Circle members, $10 for SBMM members, $20 for the general public, and $5 for students and educators with valid ID or email. Tickets and information are available at sbmm.org or by calling (805) 456-8750. Ernster has worked in the Santa Barbara Channel for eight years as a captain, wildlife naturalist, and cameraman. His presentation will cover how local ocean currents, seasonal temperatures, and island geography create conditions that support marine megafauna. “The Santa Barbara Channel is a wild place,” said Ernster. “Its richness and abundance continue to amaze me. Each trip out feels like entering a different world — and I’m honored to share that world with...