Channel Islands Expeditions - Santa Barbara

We had small group of people this particular day. It was sunny day and felt good to be water. Crew was very friendly and caring. They came around and asked me how I was doing including captions because I was feeling nauseated. After spotting gray whales far from boat few times. We parked in one spot for 10 min or so. We got so luck and two gray whales came to our boat and styled playing and being friendly. They were so close that we could bend down from side of boat and touch and feel their barnacles. It such and unreal experience. I highly recommend them and this adventure.
Mar 3rd, 2023

Amazing 3 day trip to the northern Channel Islands with the crew of the Vision. Captain and crew were all so approachable and willing to help at any moment. They were also very safety oriented, and explained the why behind everything, which helped everyone understand the risks. Chef on board made a lot of the food to order, and even delivered it to you on the deck if you were busy fishing! Great trip, amazing views at the islands, along with setting whales and dolphins on the way back. Beds were comfortable, but a bit of a tight squeeze (and would recommend bringing a battery powered fan to help with better air flow). Cannot recommend this experience enough. I would go back if given the chance (or even better, work on the boat with this crew!).
Feb 19th, 2023

Amazing experience. Everyone on the boat must of had good energy because the whales came right up to us I could almost touch one! Feeling super lucky to have gone! Thank you
Feb 11th, 2023

We (2 adults) had a great experience on the 2-day/1-night tour (Epic Overnight Painted Cave Kayak, Snorkel, and Dive) with Channel Islands Expeditions in mid-September. We didnt go onto the islands for this tour; all activities (kayaking, snorkeling, or diving) were done in the waters around the islands visited (Santa Cruz and Anacapa). The crew (John, Randy, Beth, Jake, Savannah, Max, and Bryson) were wonderful. When they were actively working, they were professional and communicated clearly, and when they werent actively working, they were friendly and happy to chat individually. They were eager to share their knowledge and experience in the Channel Islands. The boat itself was clean and comfortable, with plenty of space for the 20+ people in our group. The vessel, Truth, had three levels: the upper level with the sun deck and captains cabin, the main level with the dining room, open deck areas, two bathrooms, and rinse station; and the lower level with the lazarette (with a washer and dryer, two showers, and wetsuit storage), sleeping area, and ship equipment room. In the sleeping area, the wider beds (berths) were on the hull-side and the smaller ones were in the center. All beds had a privacy curtain and a light. The pillow and blanket provided were fine, though many people opted to bring additional bedding. Everyone was friendly and respectful. The food and beverages were plentiful and excellent. We snorkeled in two locations, one a deeper area with a kelp forest and the other a shallow area with rock formations, both of which were very cool in their own way. The water temperatures were in the high 60s / low 70s, so I was glad to have the overall-style sleeveless wetsuits they gave everyone, though I would recommend a full wetsuit if you want to stay warmer. We kayaked once per day (twice total), and the kayaks were open-top single or tandem kayaks. The first day was very challenging due to the choppy waters. Thankfully, the second day was much calmer, so the kayaking was much easier. We saw lots of wildlife, including sea lions, seals, dolphins, gulls, pelicans, and cormorants.
Dec 18th, 2022

We had a fun trip! Great service, friendly staff, and tasty snacks. Looking forward to our next outing with Channel Islands Expeditions!!
Dec 10th, 2022