You can expect the following increased safety precautions from our staff:

• All working staff have undergone additional COVID training to address increased sanitation practices & the implementation of social distancing as well as other changes to company policies.
• All staff will have temperature checks completed regularly as well as complete health screening questions.

Any employee who exhibits COVID symptoms, has a high temperature or answers an affirmative to our health screen questions that show cause for concern will be encouraged to self –isolate and seek medical attention through the Santa Barbara or Ventura Health Department.

• Upon meeting us for check-in we will have signs to remind guests of social distancing requirements. Please note that all of our check-ins take place outdoors in areas where there is ample space. 
• If you need to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk Form on the morning of your trip, you’ll be provided with sanitized pens & a sanitized clipboard. We recommend that you sign your waiver ahead of check-in through our online waiver system. 
• All of our groups will continue adhere to our small group size ratio of 8 guests to 1 guide. We also offer fully private tours to those looking to minimize their risk even more.
• We will be providing hand sanitizer, masks, and rubber/latex gloves for guest & staff use. 
• Signage will be posted & increased that informs, educates, and reminds employees and guests of Covid-19 signs and symptoms, proper hand washing and disinfecting practices.
• All of your personal safety & kayak gear will be disinfected & sanitized prior to use, such as paddles, helmets, paddle jackets, PFD’s, and wetsuits. Additionally, we are spraying our kayaks with disinfectant after each use. 

Take confidence in knowing our operations teams are working extra hard to ensure we meet or exceed CDC guidelines on our trips as well as at our warehouse and office facilities.

We will be requiring the following protocol of our guests to keep our community as safe as possible:

• Guests will be subjected to a health screening prior to joining a trip that includes the following 3 questions and/or a temperature check:
  • Have you been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19?
  • Are you experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat?
  • Have you had a fever in the last 72 hours?
• When appropriate, guests will be required to wear masks covering their nose & mouth, we encourage eco-friendly, reusable coverings. Disposable masks will be available for any guests who do not bring one.
• You will be required to sign our standard Acknowledge of Risk form prior to participating in a tour, which has been updated to acknowledge the “risk of airborne diseases & viruses such as COVID”.
• Please take the necessary precautions to protect yourself before your trip and when traveling. If you are 60 or older, or if you have a chronic medical condition such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes, please feel free to give us a call. 
• Please call our office if you have been in contact with someone (within approximately 6 feet for any sustained period of time) of a person known to have COVID-19 within the 14 days prior to a scheduled trip or if you develop flu-like symptoms (a fever, cough, and shortness of breath) during the 14 days prior to a scheduled trip.

For information specific to our COVID flexible cancellation policy please see our blog or call our office, 805-884-9283. 

Our COVID response plan is subject to change at any time based on city, county, or national guidance.  Updated 11.17.2020

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There is a significant difference between kayaking inside the breakwater of the Santa Barbara harbor and kayaking out at Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. We often receive phone calls from people asking how to know if they have the basic skills and are ready for ocean kayaking.

Ocean Kayaking Eligibility

At Santa Barbara Adventure Company, our #1 priority is your safety and comfort on the water. All of our guides are CPR and first aid certified and numerous are Wilderness First Responders, meaning they are specialized in medical training for remote areas. We commonly refer to our tour guides as “risk managers” as they are trained to assess multiple risk factors at once and continually work to ensure client safety. We believe in “challenge by choice” and supporting our clients in pushing themselves outside of their comfort zone for maximum growth potential.

If you are ready to advance your skills and try out ocean kayaking what better of a location than beautiful Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island within the Channel Islands National Park and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. No other area of the park offers as many sea cave kayaking opportunities. With our knowledgeable guides, limitless discovery and personal growth await you!

Basic Kayaking Eligibility

It is recommended that those wishing to kayak be comfortable in the water in the event you fall in. Channel Islands Adventure Company provides personal flotation devices (PFDs) and helmets which we require to be worn while on the water.

For your safety, comfort, and enjoyment on the water, we have the following eligibility criteria, as adapted from the American Canoe Association (ACA). Channel Islands sea cave kayaking tours are open to all individuals who acknowledge the ability to perform the following essential eligibility criteria:

1. Breathe independently (i.e., not require medical devices to sustain breathing)
2. Independently maintain sealed airway passages while under water
3. Independently hold head upright without neck/head support
4. Manage personal care independently or with assistance of a companion
5. Manage personal mobility independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
6. Follow verbal and/or visual instructions and effectively communicate independently or with assistance of a companion
7. Independently turn from face-down to face-up and remain floating face up while wearing a properly fitted life jacket
8. Get in/out or on/off of a kayak independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
9. Must have the ability to withstand exposure to the outdoors for a period of 4 hours
10. Independently get out and from under a capsized kayak
11. Reenter or remount the kayak following capsize independently or with a reasonable amount of assistance
12. Maintain a safe body position while attempting skills or activities needed for ocean kayaking and sea cave exploration

Please note that the total weight capacity for a tandem (2-seat) kayak is 450 pounds. The total weight capacity for a single-seat kayak is 300 pounds. Please let us know at the time of booking if anyone in your party is over 230 pounds.

Children ages five to eleven years of age must always ride with a parent or responsible adult at least 18 or older in the kayak. Children 12 years and older can paddle together as long as they are able to paddle under their own power. There must be at least one adult supervisor to take responsibility for all children under the age of 18 in a party.

As a company, we want to help support anyone who wants to explore Santa Cruz Island by kayak. Please call our office to inquire if we can offer adaptive kayaking to meet your specific needs.

Skill Levels

All of our Channel Islands sea caves kayaking tours have recommended skill levels based on the following criteria:

Beginner

• Age 5 & older
• Ability to paddle up to 1.5 miles at roughly 1 mile per hour with rest breaks every 10-15 minutes
• Beginner tours are recommended for families with children, first-time kayakers, and school/youth groups.

Intermediate

• Ages 12 and older
• Ability to paddle up to 3 miles at roughly 1.5 miles per hours with rest breaks every 20-30 minutes
• Intermediate tours are recommended for those with an active lifestyle who have had previous kayak/canoe experience.

Advanced

• Ages 16 and older
• Ability to paddle for 3-6 hours a day and to paddle up to 7.6 miles round trip at 2-2.5 miles per hour with rest breaks every 30 minutes
• Ability to paddle long stretches in open water with limited or no access to landing areas for more than 60 minutes
• Advanced tours are recommended for those who are active kayakers and have had ocean kayaking experience.

Our Channel Island kayaking tours have the following skill level recommendations:

Discovery Sea Cave Kayak Tour (1-1.5 hours of paddling): All levels, beginner to advanced

Adventure Sea Cave Kayak Tour (2.5-3 hours of paddling): All levels, beginner to advanced

Ultimate Sea Cave Kayak Tour (3-4 hours of paddling): Intermediate to advanced levels recommended

Have Questions?

We’d love to discuss how we can support you in getting out to explore Channel Islands National Park. Please review our FAQ’s page or email letsgo@sbadventureco.com.

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