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On a recent journey to Channel Islands National Park, just off the coast of Ventura and Santa Barbara, it was a stormy day limiting the accessibility of some sea caves for safety reasons. Of course, we had to go back and pray it was a calm sunny day and this weekend proved to be as such in the caves surrounding Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island.
The deeper you paddle into a cave, the darker and more enclosed it can get. This is definitely not for the claustrophobic (and you're not forced to go into any caves, many choose to have fun kayaking near them), but rather the more adventurous type. Armed with a headlamp, marine spelunking can be exhilarating and even more so when your guide asks you to turn it off so you can experience the pitch darkness, heightening your other senses.
We can't emphasize it enough, Channel Islands National Park is so close, yet such an untapped resource of exploration for the millions so close to it in the Los Angeles region. Prices are not exactly cheap--you're looking at around $175 for roundtrip boat fare, equipment and about a three to four hour tour--but the experience is quite out of this world. There are two main vendors--Aquasports and Paddlesports--who offer trips. We've now done trips with them and can highly recommend both.
Previously: Like Sea Kayaking? Channel Islands National Park is the Way to Go
