Ocean Kayaking in Sea Caves of Channel Islands, California

We had a fantastic time ocean kayaking in sea caves of the channel Islands, California. Click on the video below! Watch the video all the way to the end to see our shocking scare!

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Sea Caves of The Channel Islands Are Stunning
The Channel Islands are a group of 5 volcanic islands off the coast of southern California south of Santa Barbara. They were formed by tectonic forces that opened gaps in the earth’s crust allowing magma to escape. Each island represents a “hot spot” where magma forced its way through to the surface. Cooling of the magma over time created this string of islands (similar to Hawaii and the Galapagos Islands).

Channel Islands Sea Caves
Through wave and current action the ocean water infiltrates cracks in the rocks, eroding softer minerals.  Erosion of the softer minerals is pronounced at the water level where constant wave action surges the ocean in and out of the cracks. These cracks eventually get larger with time to form caves.  The harder minerals remain creating the stronger structural portions of the caves.
 
Sea Caves Entrances Can Be Treacherous
​While the caves are beautiful, we found they can be quite dangerous. As we waited for our guide to inspect one of the sea caves, rocks came hurtling down the cliff barely missing our Kayak!  You can see the splashes in the video above. As reported by one of our kayakers in the group, the rocks were a bit bigger than soft-balls.

Channel Islands Sea Caves
If you’re kayaking in any sea caves, inspect the cliffs above for loose eroded rocks before you venture close and never sit and wait at the base of the cliffs!  The cliffs above sea caves with falling rocks appeared very different than other areas we visited.  Loose volcanic rocks were visible and upon inspection, it was easy to see how rocks could come tumbling down at any time.  Other areas of the cliff were much more stable and massive.

Maddalena Environmental Inc.
​Al Maddalena