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Kayaking the Sea Caves of Santa Cruz

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Seaotter71
Seaotter71
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Kayaking the Sea Caves of Santa Cruz

  • March 19, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by Seaotter71 from Monterey, California
Kayaking the Sea Caves of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Island, part of Channel Island National Park, has an amazing coastline to explore by kayak. It has arches, blowholes, plenty of wildlife, and over 100 sea caves to explore.

While you can arrange for the trip yourself, the logistics of renting the kayak, getting it to the island, and then trying to figure out which way to go were just too much to think about. Not to mention that exploring sea caves can be dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing. I thus contacted Aquasports (www.islandkayaking.com) in Santa Barbara based on the recommendation of the National Geographic article that inspired the trip in the first place.

We meet at the Ventura Harbor for paperwork and to catch our boat ride to Santa Cruz. Our guide was courteous, efficient, and most importantly he imparted confidence. At this point I had only kayaked a few times and wasn’t quite sure what it would be like. The boat ride over takes about an hour, and on the way you might see dolphins and during some months maybe even whales.

We disembarked in Scorpion bay, our base of operations. While they take many types of kayaks out, we all had sit-on-tops. These are pretty nearly unsinkable and hard to tip over. Hence we didn’t require special training. I am told learning how to roll over is not fun.

So off we went. The pace was nice and steady. It wasn’t overly arduous, but a good upper body workout. Make sure your kayak has a backrest and is well adjusted; long trips can be tiring on the back. Off we were. We hugged the coastline and kayaked through arches; and stopped to look at the pelicans, seagulls, and sea lions perched on outcrops; and of course took in the caves.

This is where it pays off to have a guide. Depending on the time of the year, the tide, and who knows what else, what is a normally accessible cave might be too dangerous. We were never goaded into situations we were uncomfortable with. But when you can, it is an adrenaline rush. The moment you are in the cave, the light levels drop significantly and the outside world is framed by the now very small looking cave opening. After you are done exploring, you'll sometimes need to time your exit with the swells so you don't bump your (helmeted) head on the cave ceiling. Some caves are so small you back into them as there is no room inside to turn the kayak around.

You'll usually have some time to hike the island a bit. Take the opportunity. It is a pretty walk.

Overall it was a great experience! You got so much closer to than you can from a boat and get to see this rugged coastline from a new perspective. And it is a great workout without leaving you crippled for the rest of your vacation.

From journal Water Soluble L.A.

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