In general, I had a good time on this trip. The part I was looking forward to the most, actually going into the caves, did not happen, and there was no explanation for why this was. I assume the ocean was too choppy. Considering the pictures advertised, it certainly happens occasionally. I checked the tide schedule before booking the tour, assuming that would be the best idea to go at high tide. Unfortunately, we didn't get to go into the caves nor did we get to see the kelp forest (because the tide was too high), so that plan backfired.
There is some conflicting information on the website (but not a big deal). On the main page, it says to be in the kayak shop 1 hour before the tour starts, whereas on the ticket, it says half an hour. Half an hour is fine. We were 8 minutes late past the half an hour mark and I was stressed, but we were actually the first in our tour group to arrive. It also says your ID will be checked, but mine was not. You do have to sign a waiver with your signature and date of birth.
When we arrived, we were told to choose a lifejacket and were given a wetsuit and a helmet. The wetsuits didn't seem like an option, and I didn't realize they were until I noticed I was the only one wearing a wetsuit in our group... but this turned out to be a good idea since I did get quite wet. There were also lockers available for car keys, wallets, and other valuables.
[Tip that you might not know if you don't typically wear wetsuits: they are not meant to put on OVER clothes, but rather over swimsuits (or nothing at all). This can be a little tricky when the changing rooms are closed due to covid-19 safety protocols.]
There was a *very* brief intro to paddling before we got into the water. I think almost everyone in the group had kayaked before. Miraculously, I did not tip over.
The best part is that we saw a few dolphins very close to our boats on the way back!
I noticed another reviewer said that you'd be better off renting a kayak and going into the caves yourself, but the shop told us the caves were totally off-limits for rentals as well. Not sure if they meant just today based on the conditions, or off-limits always.
We were about 30-40 minutes late getting out into the water, so we had to cut our time short and head back.
In summary, for a first tour into the area, I would recommend it to others. My dream of going into the caves on a kayak has still not come to fruition, so I need to do more research online about when and how to go.