Join us on the Original Seven Sea Cave Tour, and you will discover first hand why kayaking in La Jolla quickly became the 5th largest tourist attraction in San Diego! During your unforgettable Tour you can expect to see Dolphin, Sea Lions, Harbor Seals, Sea Turtles, Harmless Leopard Sharks, Garibaldi Fish (Nemo’s Cousin) and a variety of different bird life.
+ Learn MoreThe Original Seven Sea Cave Tour starts with our guides pushing each boat through the surf, but it is common for lake like conditions to exist. We will kayak over to Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat’s, House to see HARMLESS Leopard Sharks, then off to La Jolla’s Seven Sea Caves, where we will swim you into and out of Emerald Cave, and then we will slowly drift back to the boat launch before, Maybe the Best Part of the Trip, we Ride a Wave in! Tour takes 1.5 hours.
- La Jolla has the only North Facing Cave wall with kayak access in California,
- Has the only Sea Lion colony in California that does not pup off an island,
- Has the largest HARMLESS Leopard Shark gathering in the world AND
- La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve has more sea life per capita than anywhere else in California.
During Surf Alert 1 Levels Lifeguards close down Emerald Cave, swimming isn’t required and perfect for all ages.
La Jolla’s Seven Sea Cave Tours are available year-round. The Fall and Winter offer some of the best conditions we see all year!
- Group Rates:
For information on Group Rates or Team Building Exercises, call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Have Questions?
Have questions about a tour or rental? Call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Pricing Information:
Online pricing is discounted from walk-in rates due to our awesomeness. If you have a pre-paid voucher please call (858) 454-6195 to ensure availability.
A kayak and snorkel tour is the only way to Fully Interact with all the amazing sea life in La Jolla's underwater park. La Jolla's sea life is very special in the sense that the animals will actively socialize with humans, which is very different than almost everywhere else on the planet. Like our customers our sea life is just cooler. This is a tour guide favorite, so expect a stoked guide with high seniority on this tour!
+ Learn MoreOur Kayak and Snorkel Tour starts with our guides pushing each boat through the surf, but it is common for lake like conditions to exist. We will kayak over to Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat’s, House to see HARMLESS Leopard Sharks, then off to La Jolla’s Seven Sea Caves. We will anchor at the Caves and snorkel this magical area…then we will get back into our kayaks and slowly drift back to the boat launch before, Maybe the Best Part of the Trip, we Ride a Wave in! Tour lasts 2 hours after which you can keep the snorkel gear to continue snorkeling for another 2 hours.
- La Jolla has the only North Facing Cave wall with kayak access in California,
- Has the only Sea Lion colony in California that does not pup off an island,
- Has the largest HARMLESS Leopard Shark gathering in the world AND
- La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve has more sea life per capita than anywhere else in California.
Kayak and Snorkel Tours are available year-round. The Fall and Winter offer some of the best conditions we see all year!
Swimming experience is recommended and all participants need to be 8 years of age or older.
- Group Rates:
For information on Group Rates or Team Building Exercises, call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Have Questions?
Have questions about a tour or rental? Call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Pricing Information:
Online pricing is discounted from walk-in rates due to our awesomeness. If you have a pre-paid voucher please call (858) 454-6195 to ensure availability.
Sunset tours in La Jolla are simply the best tours to see DOLPHINS and Sea Lions feeding on bait balls of fish, which means Dolphins, Sea Lions and Seals are jumping out of the Pacific as Pelicans are diving into it. Our guides are always asked, "What's the coolest thing you can see!"...well Dolphins, Seals, Sea Lions and Pelicans feeding on thousands of fish within touching distance of your kayak is way way up there on our list! Also, at sunset the wind is usually down, which turns the water to glass, and the sun puts on a show. This tour is typically a smaller and much more intimate tour. Perfect for couples and families alike!
+ Learn MoreOur Sunset Tour starts with our guides pushing each boat through the surf, but it is common for lake like conditions to exist. We will kayak over to Dr. Seuss, Cat in the Hat’s, House to see HARMLESS Leopard Sharks, then off towards La Jolla Cove. We then we will slowly drift back to the boat launch before, Maybe the Best Part of the Trip, we Ride a Wave in! Tour takes 1.5 hours.
- Has the only Sea Lion colony in California that does not pup off an island,
- Has the largest HARMLESS Leopard Shark gathering in the world AND
- La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve has more sea life per capita than anywhere else in California.
Sunset Tours are available year-round. The Fall and Winter offer some of the best conditions we see all year!
- Group Rates:
For information on Group Rates or Team Building Exercises, call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Have Questions?
Have questions about a tour or rental? Call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Pricing Information:
Online pricing is discounted from walk-in rates due to our awesomeness. If you have a pre-paid voucher please call (858) 454-6195 to ensure availability.
Go gills-over-tail crazy for La Jolla's legendary leopard sharks and other local marine life during SHARK SUMMER this July and August at Birch Aquarium at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. Celebrate these remarkable animals with a new exhibit, shark-savvy activities, field excursions, and exclusive interactions with Andy Nosal, a leopard shark researcher and Birch Aquarium's new DeLaCour Postdoctoral Fellow in Ecology & Conservation.
Learn the basics of ocean kayaking while exploring the coastline and calm waters of La Jolla. Birch Aquarium naturalists will team up with guides at Everyday California to highlight the variety of sharks, rays, and other wildlife present. Experience the unique features of La Jolla's Matlahuayl Marine Reserve and discover why it's a hot spot for our leopard sharks. Ages 10+ (minors must also be accompanied by a paid adult). Price includes rental equipment. Pre-purchase required.
ONLY AVAILABLE – July 13,20*,28 August 4,10*,18 8am-10:30am. *Dr. Andy Nosal, Birch Aquarium's DeLaCour Postdoctoral Fellow in Ecology & Conservation, will be leading the tours on only those days with an asterisk*. Please DO NOT book any days other than those offered here as you will be sent on a different tour without a Birch Aquarium naturalists.
RSVP Required: 858-454-6195 or book online. (Aquarium members please call 858.454.6195 to get your COUPON CODE)
+ Learn More- Group Rates:
For information on Group Rates or Team Building Exercises, call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Have Questions?
Have questions about a tour or rental? Call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Pricing Information:
Online pricing is discounted from walk-in rates due to our awesomeness. If you have a pre-paid voucher please call (858) 454-6195 to ensure availability.
Birch Aquarium Members: $45
Public: $60
Last whale watching season was one of epic proportions! OEX La Jolla's crew saw whales on approximately 80% of their tours. This season is even more anticipated then past seasons due to the increase of the Gray Whale population. Nearly hunted to extinction, the gray whale was removed from the endangered-species list in 1994. But not anymore! The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Alaska cited agency estimates that put the entire Eastern North Pacific gray whale population at between 18,000-21,000 animals. What does this mean for you? Gray Whale spotting will be even more abundant this season!
+ Learn MoreScientists tracking Gray Whale calves have seen an exponential growth in mother and baby pairs. This past July there were 57 pairs spotted compared to the 18 pairs observed last year. The Aerial Surveys of Arctic Marine Mammals Project are very encouraged and excited to see the almost five-fold increase in new calves.
And it’s not just Grays that we spot in La Jolla, on any given day fin whales, blue whales and humpback whales may swim by! Last winter a pod of orcas, or killer whales, was observed closed to shore in Los Angeles! The annual migration of the Gray Whale from Alaska to Baja is an anticipated event in San Diego and OEX La Jolla is pleased to offer an unforgettable whale watching experience.
We will paddle within feet of these beautiful creatures, and there is nothing like being up close and person with a 45ft Gray Whale…unless you see a Blue Whale! You also should expect to see large pods of Dolphins, Sea Lions and Seals. There is something very peaceful that comes from being a few miles off the coast of La Jolla in a kayak. Gray Whale watching starts December 1st and runs until March 15th.
What to look for when whale watching?
Breaching - Takes place when a whale leaps out of the water and falls back with a thud. Also know as cresting.
Spouting - Heart shaped puff of mist from the spout or blowhole. You can often tell the size of a Gray by the height of the spout.
Spyhopping - When they raise their head and hold position partially out of the water as if to look around. This can last for minutes!
Fluking - When its tail breaks the surface.
Our guides will push every kayak safely through any waves that exist, but it is common for the conditions to be lake like. We will paddle past La Jolla’s Seven Sea Caves and about two miles out, which will put us directly in the path of the whale migration. Our expert Certified Kayak Guides know the best spots to view Gray Whales, and will be offering interesting facts and history about the surrounding area and marine life along the voyage. The tour takes two hours.
- La Jolla has the only North Facing Cave wall with kayak access in California,
- Has the only Sea Lion colony in California that does not pup off an island,
- Has the largest HARMLESS Leopard Shark gathering in the world AND
- La Jolla’s Ecological Reserve has more sea life per capita than anywhere else in California.
No experience is required and you don’t need to know how to swim.
Starting December 2012: Whale Watching Expedition (4 hour voyage, lunch…4 miles off the coast! Will increase the probability of seeing gray whales 100%) Call for Details, 858-454-6195.
- Group Rates:
For information on Group Rates or Team Building Exercises, call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Have Questions?
Have questions about a tour or rental? Call (858) 454-6195 or contact us online. - Pricing Information:
Online pricing is discounted from walk-in rates due to our awesomeness. If you have a pre-paid voucher please call (858) 454-6195 to ensure availability.
