And for many species of sea birds, the pristine habitat offers a rare respite from human development. On Santa Cruz Island, historic ranch buildings and collections of Chumash Indian artifacts provide a window into California's past. A fun introductory kayaking lesson is included in all trips. And the sheltered paddling areas very often are without surf or strong winds. This allows for 45 minutes of gear handling and paperwork.
Some whale species reside in the channel all year round.
A naturalist accompanies the boat trip and delivers a running commentary on the wildlife we encounter and offers historical narratives on the islands and the Chumash natives that once inhabited them. As we approach the island we determine the best course of action based upon the particular charter vessel being used and the sea and weather conditions. Most days, we elect to take both gear and lunch onshore. On other days, we take some snacks along with us, board the kayaks directly from the charter vessel and save lunch for later. There is usually very little surf at the landing site a one foot break is normal.