I was with, my son and his wife. We all had some prior experience and chose single kayaks. The group we were in (7 in all) included one mature couple in a two person kayak another single and two guides one of whom rode with one of the group who did not have experience in a double.
In brief the high score is merited because of the attention given to safety and the quality of service and information provided. We didn’t see much sea life but that was something outside anyone’s control.
Whilst the sun was out, an unusually heavy storm was forecast and the sea was beginning to build. It was clear from the start that we would not be going into the caves. Once we were all launched and riding a gentle swell beyond the breaking waves, our guide explains the various underwater habitats comprised in the reserve. We then kayaked south as near as was safe towards the cliffs. The swell at that point was big and we stayed well clear of the break zone eventually turning out to sea and near to the limit of the reserve and then back north over the deeper water in the hope of encountering some sea life before returning to shore. We were out for something like an hour and a half maybe two in all.
During that time we saw pelicans skimming the water near to us, cormorants and some other sea birds. Our guide showered us the variety of invertebrates living in the holdfast of a detached piece of kelp floating by, we didn’t see any other sea life but in the prevailing conditions that probably was not surprising. We did enjoy riding some big swells and being out on the ocean in the sun on a clear, if not the warmest, day.
Whilst about half the group surfed their kayaks successfully to shore, I and one or two others got wet!
Practicalities.
La Jolla Kayaks offer changing facilities, lockers and a choice of shorty or full length wet suits. They also provide buoyancy vests and helmets. The latter to be worn through the surf. Their staff were unfailingly friendly and helpful.
The weather had been cold but the morning was sunny, I chose a shorty and was comfortable throughout.
I am female and a few days shy of 70, I consider myself relatively fit. Before the trip I had slight reservations about my ability to stay the course, these proved totally unfounded. The guides pace the kayaking for a mixed group and intersperse it with pauses for explanation. The guides checked that we were ok and consulted with us as to whether we were happy to go on into the stronger swell or preferred to turn into quieter water.
We chose a morning trip because we were advised that the morning was generally less windy.
Perhaps because it was late season there were not huge numbers of tours out at the same time as us. We were a small group and for that little time the sea was ours.