Sea Cave Kayaking & Marine Reserve Exploration

From surf launch to reading swell well enough to enter a sea cave safely.

Booking now
Each session2 hr 30 min a session
How oftenOnce a week
Cohort8–10 per cohort
SeasonYear-round · a new cohort starts each month

What you leave with

An extended coastal expedition through the sea caves, timed on the swell yourself

The protected water of the La Jolla Ecological Reserve and 75-million-year-old sandstone sea caves. Ocean kayak handling, wave timing, cave entry mechanics and marine biology literacy.

The caves are entered one boat at a time and only when the swell allows. Learning to make that call yourself is the skill; the cave is the reward.

What makes this one worth it

  • Surf Launching, Forward Strokes & Wave Timing
  • Marine Reserve Ecology & Kelp Bed Navigation
  • Sea Cave Manoeuvring & Surge Dynamics
  • Extended Coastal Expedition & Marine Conservation

What is included

  • All 4 sessions of the 4-week cohort — 10 hours of instruction
  • A place held for you for the whole run, in a cohort of 8–10
  • Every piece of equipment listed below, provided on the day
  • Your instructor, and their attention in a group this size

What to bring

  • Water, and something to eat if you want it
  • Nothing else — the kit is provided

How it runs

Once a week · 2 hr 30 min a session

Frequency
1x / week — 2.5 hours on the water
Session length
2 hr 30 min
Each month
4 sessions, about 10 hours
Cohort size
8 – 10 participants
Where
La Jolla Shores & La Jolla Ecological Reserve
Level
All Levels (beginner friendly)
Commitment
Monthly — stay as long as it is worth it

What you cover, in rotation

The group works through these in order and then begins again on fresh ground. Join at whatever stage it is on — nothing here assumes you were there for the last one, and nothing runs out — or drop in for a single session if that is all you can manage.

  1. Stage 1Surf Launching, Forward Strokes & Wave Timing
    • Sit-on-top setup, paddle feathering, and high and low brace mechanics.
    • Reading shorebreak and timing the launch through breaking surf.
    • Efficient torso-rotation paddling and straight tracking.
  2. Stage 2Marine Reserve Ecology & Kelp Bed Navigation
    • Navigating the giant kelp forest canopy.
    • Spotting garibaldi, leopard sharks, harbour seals and sea lions.
    • Deep-water capsize recovery and assisted rescue drills.
  3. Stage 3Sea Cave Manoeuvring & Surge Dynamics
    • Swell surge timing and reading wave sets outside cave mouths.
    • Entering Sunny Jim and Clam's Cave under safe conditions.
    • Back-paddling, 360-degree sweep turns, and ruddering in tight arches.
  4. Stage 4Extended Coastal Expedition & Marine Conservation
    • A long-distance coastal paddle along the sea cliffs.
    • Marine protected area stewardship and plastic pollution reduction.
    • A post-paddle beach picnic and marine biology debrief.

4 sessions in the cycle, then it begins again on new ground.

Who leads it, and what is provided

Led by ACA certified coastal kayak guide / marine biologist.

Surf zone safety, swell assessment, and marine interpretation.

On the table when you arrive

  • Ocean sit-on-top kayaks
  • Paddles and PFDs
  • Helmets
  • Wetsuits

Before you book

Know before you go

  • You must be able to swim 50 metres unaided
  • Caves are entered at the guide's discretion and are the first thing dropped in a swell

Not recommended for

  • Anyone with back or shoulder problems
  • Non-swimmers

Cancellations and refunds follow our cancellation policy, which is the same for every activity on this site.

When it runs

August 2026

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Runs Not running

Friday 7 August

  • 9amup to 10 guests
  • 6:30pmup to 6 guests

Usually runs Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

This is the operator’s schedule, not live seat availability. We check the date with them and come back to you — nothing is booked or paid for here.

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