The swell rises up the cliff wall, covers the barnacles and retreats. The red footed Pigeon Guillemot perches on a narrow black ledge of volcanic rock above the cave entrance. I glide along the base of the cliff a few feet from the rocky wall staying in the shadows to avoid the sun. A group of cormorants sit and stare at each other on the snow-covered rocks that reek of bird urine. The long fronds of giant kelp stretch out parallel to the wall tracing the current like the tail of a kite. Fry dart in and out of the brown leaves. A couple of pieces of squishy flattened tar rest on the floating leaves. Blue fish move among the stalks and leaves of the kelp trees. The water is tinted aqua blue when shallow, its surface is surprisingly smooth.
Our group is ready for the next sea cave challenge. Dave, our guide, informs us to keep the kayak straight until past the rock and then rudder right. I paddle in, a light surge pushes the vessel towards the back wall. I rudder right around the corner twisting around the column of rock and then lean back in my seat until I am almost laying down so I can fit myself through the low opening. I push myself through the narrow tube by grabbing the rocks over my head and pulling myself and the boat forward. Another surge bounces off the back wall and pushes me out of the squeeze and into a larger area of the cave. I paddle back out into the open sea a cormorant paddling along side the boat. It dives, swims towards me, and at the last second dives under the kayak. I don’t see it surface. A harbor seal suns itself on the kelp.
We round a corner of the cliff. The group heads into one of the largest sea caves in the world, or so the guide and brochure tell us. Plenty of room for everyone, we paddle back about hundred feet under the mountain, turn the kayaks around, sit in the dark and just enjoy the framed view of the Santa Barbara channel out the entrance. The guide tells us the sunset pours directly into the cave around the solstice. It would make an amazing picture to have the orange red glow of the sunset light up the cave.
Our last feature is a horizontal blow hole of sorts. We position the kayak in a recess in the cliff. A small cave burrows into the mountain. When the wave rises in the back of the small opening, it forces out the vapor at high speed giving anyone positioned in front of it, the thrill of of a seafaring shower.
The group lazily heads back to base enjoying the amazing scenery of the water and cliffs, the peacefulness of the calm water, and talking about the thrills and spills of the day.