Welcome to the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is one of the premier venues for education, information, and lectures about the Santa Barbara Channel, the Channel Islands National Park, and 13,000 years of human interaction with the sea. Whether you're interested in historical subjects such as the Chumash and their settlements along the Santa Barbara coast, or more contemporary nautical topics such as environmental preservation, marine life, surfing, and sustainability, we offer something interesting for everyone. We also have lots of fun and interactive exhibits for kids and families.
We're conveniently located in the beautiful Santa Barbara Harbor next to several shops, restaurants, boat rides, kayak rentals, and various activities for the whole family. Come on down and make a day of it. You'll be glad you did.
Upcoming Exhibits, Lectures, and Events
The Birthplace of Deepwater Diving Technology
Very few people know it, but Santa Barbara, California, is recognized by most international diving historians as the birthplace of deepwater diving technology. During the 1960’s, many of the Santa Barbara diving industry divers began a rapid transition from air diving to deepwater oxy-helium commercial diving. lifepsychiatric.com
Learn more about how mixed gas breathing apparatus developed in Santa Barbara was used by divers to rapidly expand the safe depth range for offshore exploration.