Channel Islands Adventure Company

What Channel Islands Adventure Company does

Channel Islands Adventure Company (CIACo) is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service operating guided sea cave kayak tours, snorkeling excursions, and educational outdoor programs at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. Founded in 1998 by Michael Cohen, the company runs year-round kayak tours at three skill tiers (Discovery at 2.5 hours and $159-$199 per person; Adventure at 4 hours and $219 per person; Ultimate at 5 hours and $285 per person), plus a June-September guided snorkel excursion at $165 per person and a combination kayak-and-snorkel tour at $299 per person. Private group bookings are sold at flat rates ranging from $1,752 (1-8 guests) to $4,776 (17-24 guests). All tours include equipment (kayaks, paddles, helmets, PFDs, wetsuits, paddle jackets) and require a separate ferry ticket via Island Packers from Ventura Harbor.

The business serves five primary customer segments: individual adventure tourists and families (primary), school and educational groups grades 5+ aligned to California science standards, Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, corporate and private events, and specialty interest groups (photography, ecology, Chumash cultural history). Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via the islandkayaking.com website through a Zaui booking portal and phone sales, with no third-party resellers. Marketing is concentrated on organic channels (Instagram, Google reviews showing 5.0 stars across 577 reviews, TripAdvisor, blog/SEO) and earned media (Sunset Magazine 2023 Travel Awards, USA Today #1 Best Kayak Tour, Fox Nation Park*D). Gift certificates of any dollar amount without expiration serve as both marketing and pre-paid future revenue.

The company operates as a DBA (Doing Business As) of Santa Barbara Adventure Company, Inc., a family-owned California corporation that also owns Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours and Coastal Team Building as sister brands sharing CRM and marketing systems. Michael Cohen serves as President and Owner/Director, with his wife Suzanne and sons Blake and Aidan involved. The company remains privately held with no VC or PE backing, has between 11 and 50 employees, and reports revenue of more than a decade of cumulative 'tens of thousands of visitors' served since 2010 at this single NPS concession location.

Name

Channel Islands Adventure Company

Legal name

Santa Barbara Adventure Company, Inc.

Website

https://islandkayaking.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Channel Islands Adventure Company is an authorized National Park Service concessioner offering guided sea cave kayak tours, snorkeling excursions, and curriculum-aligned educational group programs at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, serving individual tourists, families, schools, and corporate groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adventure Tourism & Outdoor Recreation Services

NAICS

Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (4872), Tour Operators (561520), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Water (487210), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation (487)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Water Transportation (4400), Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350)

akta.pro primary industry

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Tours (Guided/Paddling Excursions) (THAJAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kayaking, Canoeing & SUP Coastal Tours (THAAAIAF), Snorkeling Tours & Reef Experiences (THAJAJAE), Dive & Snorkel Equipment Rental, Retail & Boat Services (compressors, gear hire) (THAAAIAL), Shore Excursion Operators (Tours & Activities) (THAEAFAC), Marine Recreation Rentals & Tours Retail Counter (On-site Sales) (CRAMAIAM)

Keywords

• Guided kayak tours
• Sea cave kayaking
• Snorkeling excursions
• Outdoor adventure tours
• National park concessions

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Barbara

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Guided Kayak Tours: The company offers guided sea cave kayak tours at Scorpion Anchorage, Santa Cruz Island, with multiple skill tiers: Discovery (2.5 hours, $159-$199/person), Adventure (4 hours, $219/person + $72 ferry), Ultimate Sea Caves (5 hours, $285/person + ferry), and Private tours ($1,752-$4,776 flat rate for groups of 1-24). Tours include all gear (kayak, paddle, helmet, PFD, paddle jacket, wet suit) and are priced as one-time transactional experiences.
2. Guided Snorkeling & Gear Rentals: Guided snorkeling tours are offered June-September at $165/person (3-hour guided excursion) and as a combo with kayaking at $299/person. Snorkel gear rentals are available on a first-come, first-served day-rental basis: snorkel & mask ($20), fins ($20), full package ($64). Revenue is generated per-person or per-rental-transaction.
3. Private & Group Tours: Private kayak tours are sold at flat rates per group size (1-8 guests: $1,752; 9-16 guests: $3,184; 17-24 guests: $4,776), plus ferry tickets. These provide higher per-booking revenue and are targeted at corporate groups, families, and special events.
4. Gift Certificates: The company sells gift certificates in any dollar amount, valid on all tours, with no expiration date. These represent pre-paid future revenue and serve as a marketing tool for customer acquisition and gifting occasions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Channel Islands Adventure Company provides guided sea cave kayak tours, guided snorkeling excursions, snorkel gear rentals, and educational/specialty outdoor programs at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island within Channel Islands National Park. As the authorized National Park Service concessioner at this location, the company delivers tours across skill tiers (Discovery 2.5h, Adventure 4h, Ultimate 5h), private group bookings, and curriculum-aligned programs for school and scout groups. Tours include all required ocean kayaking equipment and naturalist guide services, with ferry tickets purchased separately through Island Packers.

Product overview

Channel Islands Adventure Company offers a unified portfolio of guided outdoor adventure experiences centered on Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. The core offerings include sea cave kayak tours at three skill levels (Discovery, Adventure, and Ultimate), snorkeling excursions (guided and self-guided rentals), and combination kayak-and-snorkel tours. Educational programs span school groups, scout troops, and specialty interest tours covering ecology, conservation, cultural history, and wildlife photography. All tours include necessary equipment provisioning and professional guide services. The company operates as an authorized National Park concessioner, providing complete adventure packages from gear to instruction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours: Wine tasting tours operated by the parent company Santa Barbara Adventure Company, Inc.
• Coastal Team Building

Products and services

• Adventure Sea Caves Kayak Tour A 4-hour beginner-friendly guided kayak tour exploring sea caves, kelp forests, and pristine coastlines at Scorpion Anchorage on Santa Cruz Island. Priced at $219/adult and $199/child (12 & under), plus ferry ticket. Year-round, ages 5+.
• Discovery Sea Caves Kayak Tour A 2.5-hour shortened beginner-friendly guided kayak tour ideal for first-timers, exploring sea caves and kelp forests at Scorpion Anchorage with time for hiking before or after the tour. Priced at $159/adult and $139/child (12 & under); ferry not included. Ages 5+.
• Ultimate Sea Caves Kayak Tour A 5-hour intermediate-to-advanced guided kayak adventure exploring sea caves en route to Potato Harbor, a remote area with an aqua-colored cove and pristine shoreline. Priced at $285/person (ferry extra). Operates Sat, Sun & Wed (May–November).
• Snorkel & Sea Caves Kayak Tour A 5-hour combination tour with 1–1.5 hours of kayaking through sea caves plus 45 minutes of snorkeling in giant kelp forests (swimming required). Priced at $299/adult. Ages 10+. Operates Tue–Thu & Sat (June–September).
• Private Sea Caves Kayak Tour A private guided kayak tour for groups of 1–24 guests with a dedicated guide and customizable tour length and itinerary. Flat-rate pricing: $1,752 (1–8 guests), $3,184 (9–16 guests), or $4,776 (17–24 guests), plus ferry tickets.
• Guided Snorkel Excursion A 3-hour guided snorkeling tour with experienced naturalist guides exploring the underwater ecosystem of giant kelp forests at Channel Islands. Priced at $165/person. Operates June–September.
• Snorkeling Gear Rental Self-guided snorkeling equipment rental including snorkel & mask ($20), fins ($20), snorkel/mask/fins package ($39), 3-piece 7mm wetsuit ($39), and a full package ($64); all rentals include a flotation belt. Day rental only, at the on-island storefront.
• Educational Group Tours Custom educational tours for school groups (grades 5 and up), colleges, universities, and youth organizations, aligned with California science curriculum standards. Led by trained teachers and naturalist guides, with optional pre- and post-tour educational materials. Includes offerings such as the Kids & Caves Tour, Ecology & Conservation Tours (Marine Protected Area, Intertidal, Kelp Forest, Botany), and Cultural & Natural History Tours (Chumash history, geology, birding), plus Specialty Adventure Tours (Coche Point Pinniped Tour, Photography Tour, Foreign Language Tours).
• Scout Programs Merit badge counselor-guided programs for Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, focused on outdoor skills including kayaking, Leave No Trace, oceanography, and snorkeling. Booked through the educational tours RFP form.
• Gift Certificates Gift certificates valid on all tours, available in any dollar amount, never expire, and redeemable online through the Zaui booking portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5.0-star rating from 577 Google reviews, demonstrating consistently high customer satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Channel Islands National Park / National Park ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChannel Islands Adventure Company is the authorized concessioner for Channel Islands National Park at Scorpion Anchorage. This regulatory concession agreement is the foundation of the company's operations, granting exclusive rights to conduct kayak and snorkel tours at this location. The concession contract requires adherence to National Park Service regulations, safety standards, and operational guidelines.
• Island PackerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIsland Packers is the official ferry company serving Channel Islands National Park, departing daily from Ventura Harbor. The company coordinates ferry ticket sales (available as an add-on during tour checkout or purchasable directly through Island Packers), with ferry crossings taking approximately 1.5 hours to Scorpion Anchorage. Ferry tickets are required for all tours. Island Packers also provides on-board naturalist guides who lead hiking tours.
• Santa Barbara Adventure CompanycoreOthersChannel Islands Adventure Company (CIACo) is a DBA (doing business as) of Santa Barbara Adventure Company, Inc. The parent company also operates Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours and Coastal Team Building brands. Shared systems, marketing platforms, analytics tools, and customer relationship management tools operate across all brands.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Monterey Bay Kayaks: Monterey-based guided kayak tours including sea cave and wildlife experiences along the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Comparable California coastal kayak tour operator with similar target market and product mix.
• Santa Barbara Adventure Company: Parent corporate entity of Channel Islands Adventure Company; operates sister brands Santa Barbara Wine Country Tours and Coastal Team Building. Same owner, same booking systems, overlapping customer base in Santa Barbara.
• Santa Catalina Island Company (Two Harbors): Operates visitor services and tours at Two Harbors on Catalina Island under a similar island concession structure. Closest analog to Channel Islands' NPS concessioner model: regulated island destination with combined ferry-dependent access and exclusive operating rights.
• La Jolla Kayak: San Diego-based guided kayak and snorkel tour operator in the La Jolla Marine Reserve. Direct competitor in the Southern California guided ocean kayak and snorkel space with similar tour tiers, gear-inclusive pricing, and eco-tourism positioning.
• Avila Beach Paddlesports: Central California coast kayak and paddleboard outfitter offering guided tours and rentals. Closest geographic peer to Channel Islands Adventure Company on the mainland California coast with overlapping adventure-tour customer segment.

Broad incumbents

• OARS: Established whitewater and sea kayaking tour operator with multi-destination guided adventure trips in the US and internationally. Overlaps with Channel Islands Adventure Company on guided sea kayaking product category, though OARS is a multi-destination incumbent.
• REI Adventures: National adventure travel brand offering guided multi-day kayak and outdoor experiences across many destinations. Broader scope and deeper marketing reach than Channel Islands Adventure Company, but overlapping customer base of experience-driven outdoor travelers.

Others

• Sierra Club Outings: Nonprofit-led outdoor education and adventure trips including kayaking experiences. Comparable to Channel Islands Adventure Company's educational group programming in mission and customer (school/youth/adult learners) but operates as a nonprofit membership organization.
• Island Packers: Official concessioner ferry service to Channel Islands National Park from Ventura Harbor; Channel Islands Adventure Company's core logistics partner. Comparable in regulated NPS concessioner status and on-island customer relationship, but operates in transportation rather than tours.

Regional players

• Adventure Whale Watch: Channel Islands whale watching and marine wildlife tour operator departing from Ventura Harbor. Regional competitor for the same marine experience tourist arriving via the same Ventura Harbor gateway, though focused on boat-based wildlife viewing rather than kayak/snorkel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/islandkayaking
• Xx.com/ciadventure
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquasports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Channel Islands Adventure Company