Great experience! I booked a Kayak and Stand-up Paddle Board online 3-months in advance of our arrival to ensure we would have access to them when we arrived. I'm so glad I did because while we were signing the wavers, people were coming up asking about rentals and they were sold out of everything for the day. The online reservation process was quick and easy. Rentals are for a minimum of 2 hours and you have to choose your date and block your arrival time. After arriving, we had a short wait to get into our rentals. Their process was very efficient. The only downside is that they are located in the busy marina with the boats/yachts. My daughter was so excited about her kayak that she wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings, she didn't notice that a yacht was leaving the marina and headed right for her. It came so very close to plowing her down. Just watch your surroundings and you'll be just fine. Overall, everyone had an absolute blast. My daughter was absolutely shocked when a seal swam right up to her Kayak, poked his head out, made some noises, then playfully splashed water on her. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience. Highly Recommended! read more

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The guy who helped us was pretty nice. He gave us a tip on where to kayak for the best view and helped us get strapped in as it was my first time. Side note: Don't wear regular shoes because you will get very wet and don't aim for the smaller coves along the shore because it was way harder to get out of. Overall super fun experience tho. read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Water - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

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Great rental experience! I booked snorkel rentals online and pickup was a breeze. Service was also very friendly.

UPDATE: the owner quickly got in contact with me and did everything she could to make it right, including refunding us the total amount. She also wanted to know all the details so she could make the right corrections, including taking the bad rental googles out of circulation. She then gave us a free voucher for snorkeling next time we're on the island. I could tell that she really cares and wants the best experience for everyone so I've updated my rating to reflect that. ***** Terrible gear and service, very disappointed. I rented snorkeling gear for my pregnant wife and had a fun activity to do for her birthday. Not only did the goggles not seal well, no matter how much we adjusted, but they kept fogging up instantly after putting them on. After the 15th time of having to stop in the middle of snorkeling to adjust and de-fog our goggles, we were so exhausted and just decided to give up. When we returned to their kiosk, I told the staff about the fogging problem and asked if they used any de-fogging agents on the goggles after they'd been used. The employee said that they ran out of it, but they usually tell customers to rub seaweed on the goggles to prevent it from fogging... to which I replied, "WELL, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE WE WENT OUT!". They did not even offer a refund. After that, my wife asked if I had been cut on my forehead, and I saw that the goggles had left a huge blood bruise mark between my eyebrows! Never renting snorkeling gear from this spot again. read more

I would say a nice decent spot to rent SUP boards, among other things they have. They rent by the hour(s), half day, whole day. Staff was also very nice. The only thing I recommend is to replace their PFDs since they look very worn out even though if still functional and maybe have ankle straps available. Yeah, u might not need ankle straps when paddling in flat waters (or semi choppy/flat waters), but one of these days I do plan to rent a SUP for not just an hour, or 2, but a whole day to explore around the island (I'm a hardcore adventurer and endurance athlete)...something is telling me safe to have an ankle strap since never know if water conditions change or I get knocked off during my adventure. But overall, good place. read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Outside - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

Our first rental experience renting double kayaks with Wet Spot Rentals. Customer service was excellent! We called a day ahead to change our equipment rental request, and the gentleman was very accommodating. Upon arrival, we had to wait about 5-10 minutes for the lady to open/set up the shop. She instructed us where to best kayak, avoiding the Catalina Express docking area, but forgot to mention to avoid the "scuba divers" in the Avalon. We found out the hard way. Our family members are novices at kayaking (2nd time). In any case, we were yelled at by the scuba diver instructor to "get out," despite trying our best to paddle away. We learned later to look out for the floating buoys, which we assumed were reserved for the scuba divers. Who knew! So, paddle outside their perimeter! Despite this, we had a great time kayaking with our daughters passed the scuba divers. We saw fish, a sea lion, plus beautiful scenery. The water temperature was perfect! This was on a Sunday morning, 9-11 am. We will definitely use Wet Spot Rentals again the next time we are in Catalina! The prices and services were GREAT! read more

I am so glad that my friends and I found this little gem! It's a pretty small little establishment that's closer to where you board the Catalina Express than the city center, so keep that in mind when you're looking for it. Their low prices and amazing customer service kept us coming back. We ended up renting from Wet Spot Rentals twice during our brief two day stay in Catalina. First, we rented snorkels and fins for only $10 for two hours! We took them over to Lover's Cove and got to swim with a ton of fish. It was a great experience for such an incredible price. The next day we returned at opening to rent paddle boards for an hour ($20). We ended up just paddling around the harbor since it was our first time and we didn't want to go too far. It was really fun. Both times we left our personal items in their cubbies while we were out on the water. We also purchased a waterproof pouch for a phone so we could take pictures. I definitely recommend Wet Spot Rentals to anyone in Avalon! They had the lowest prices and made our experience amazing. read more

We had a great time while visiting Catalina island and enjoyed snorkeling at lovers Cove which is right next door to Wet Spot rentals. You will be guaranteed to see an abundance of fish and sea life. Wet Spot Rentals offers very competitive prices for renting kayak, standup paddle boards, and snorkeling gear including wetsuits. The service was excellent and the rental gear worked just fine for us. Mike was very friendly and took good care of us and we sure appreciate it read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Lovers Cove is a great place to snorkel. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

Easy to book, very friendly, straightforward, and affordable. Highly recommend. In proximity to a lot of cool small beaches and ocean wildlife. read more

It's the first rental place you see when you land on Avalon. The prices are the most affordable which is really great. The offer snorkel, kayak, and stand up paddle rentals. I really wanted to go snorkeling while visiting carat and they offer a snorkel, mask, and fins for $10/hour and the second hour is free. You walk about five minutes until you reach the wooden steps to Lovers Cove and head for the rocky shore. Be extremely careful when you're walking towards the water because the current can sweep you away. I wanna give this place 5 stars but my snorkel and mask were falling apart while my fiancées was all honky dory. read more

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Not a great experience. There's no point of having workers if they aren't going to do their job and give customers important information about their services. My family and I rented kayaks for 2 people per kayak and the worker didn't help us put on our life vests (not even the kids), they didn't tell us how to steer the kayaks or what to do if we were to fall in the water. The area that we were able to take the kayaks was very unsafe as boats were passing in the same area and other activities were going on. My uncle and myself fell into the water and were stuck trying to flip the kayak back over for about 10 minutes. Neither of the workers noticed and when they finally did (we swam all the way back to the dock), they were very careless. Once we got back on the dock, they didn't ask if we were okay or if we needed anything. Please proceed with caution if you have young children and decide to kayak with them in this area. read more

The staff and overall experience have been wonderful! I also left my ID at the rental booth and needed back for work at the mainland. Owner took the time to quickly mail back my ID without charging a dime! I sincerely appreciate the accommodations and highly recommend this place to everyone. read more

DO NOT COME HERE! This is absolutely the worst place to go. The owner of the store forced us to get 2 hour kayaking with no refund. The area is where all the other boats park. So one of the boat owner yelled at us to move out of his way because we are in his way. We tried our best to move but to be fair we are new at kayaking. He yelled multiple times and then turn the back of the boat us so we could smell all the exhaust. At this time, we were already close to the shore. The store owner saw us and didn't do anything. We asked if we could pull up but he refused and said we have to wait. At this point, I already feel like I wanna throw up for a very long time. But yea, the store owner didn't care. So trust me, if you wanna go kayaking, go somewhere else. At least you won't get yelled at by random stranger and puke your guts out. read more

The guy at the booth was very friendly and the prices were very affordable, they also have gift items case you need to pick up something real quick on the way to the ferry back which was convenient read more

A great place with the best customer service. My friends and I went to Catalina for snorkeling. Michelle made that experience even better for us. Thank you for your kindness and patience Michelle :) read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

Wet Spot Rentals was awesome! Super friendly staff. They also can keep your bags or personal items. I reserved for a tandem Kayak for 2 hours. I did it online and it was an easy and simple process. Checking in was smooth and fast. They provided us with life vest before we headed down towards the deck to climb into our kayak. We got to kayak along the coast. The water was super clear. We got to see a lot of fishes under the water. Stopped by a couple of places to take quick photo ops. It took us about an hour to get to the spot that they recommended and another hour to get back to return the kayak. This is an awesome way to work out the arms. Taught us how to synchronize and to find our flow. We had tons of fun! And would love to rent from them again. Maybe snorkeling or stand up paddle boarding next time! read more

This is a no brainer. In addition to the Kayaks and snorkeling rental equipment they have here, with their own dock thing, you must take a guided day trip to the other side of the island with owner Mike Upton. My wife and I did and it was perfect; desolate unspoiled beaches just 26 miles from Los Angeles. You can't believe it. Turquoise water, solitude, the whole thing. You need a permit to use the roads to get to this place but Mike has one. He's also got a vehicle, which is hard to get on this island. He's also a 3rd generation islander and he really knows every inch of this island. It's been his back yard for 54 years! It's kind of like the wild west on Catalina in many ways and a trip with Mike really is like going back in time. This is is not an eco-tour (although you will see and learn about Bison and many other animals, and plants too). This is a tour of what locals do on their days off, and they're all kind of crazy so be prepared for a lot of fun. It's how they get there and how they do it, Catalina style. You can't beat it. It's worth building your visit around. In just one trip to Little Harbor on the uninhabited side of Catalina we saw a huge amount of Bison and other wildlife (some very up close), learned all kinds of stuff about what it was like to grow up on this island in another era, and we even did some crazy stuff that I'm not going to put down in writing. You just gotta take the tour. We brought our stand up paddle boards, but Mike's got kayaks for you and boogie boards, beach chairs, umbrellas, and a great lunch, and maybe a few beers if you're good. If you live in L.A. and haven't been to Catalina lately, shame on you. It's beautiful, reasonable, safe, friendly and so close! I hadn't been in decades and the best advice I got before I booked my room was "don't worry about where you're going to stay. Just book a room. They're all good." We took the Catalina Express and in about an hour we were there. you can walk to any hotel from the landing but they also have plenty of cabs. Most people travel by golf cart here but we never needed anything but shank's pony (look that one up). So that means that in two hours, you could be at an exotic empty beach with turquoise water drinking a beer under an umbrella. I've already reserved my room for the next 4th of July weekend but I also plan to come back several times before then. It was too much fun. Mike is also the guy I would go to if you are interested in filming locations and stuff like that on the island. He knows everybody. www.catalinakayaks.com read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Shark Cove, Catalina - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

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Wet Spot is right next to the Ferry Landing and also reasonably close to Lovers Cove. I remembered hearing that's where you can see a lot of fish so we decided to rent glass bottom kayaks and head out. They were $20 an hour and seated one person. The folks at WetSpot were nice and straightforward and hung onto our bags for us so we didn't need to rent a locker. Even though I've kayaked a couple of times before (Newport Back Bay and once at Descanso on the other side of Avalon, Catalina) we were pretty much kayak newbies. Paddling out to Lover's Cove from Wet Spot wasn't too bad, but you had to "not be an idiot" and avoid the following ships as they pulled in and out of their berths: A) The Catalina Express Ferry B) The Parasail Catalina boats and other boats You paddle around the dock (avoid the fishing lines!) and then into Lovers Cove where you then must avoid: C) The Nautilus glass bottom boat D) Some other glass bottom boat people E) Snorkelers and divers F) Assorted other little boats All of this dodging made me a little neurotic, especially since the water was pretty choppy that day. But if you can be confident in your paddling and not obsess over getting run over by boats or getting chopped up in a rudder like in that Indiana Jones movie, you'll be fine! And the fish, ooh the fish! A seal popped up next to a boat near us! We saw some blue halfmoons, a bunch of garibaldi, a big spotted sea bass, and a school of sardines or mackerel (not sure). Notes: They don't rent water shoes or water bags. Since you can't beach the glass bottom kayaks anyway, we just went barefoot. You definitely can't take non-waterproof stuff with you, so consider picking up a waterproof camera from Wetspot ($14) or the local Vons ($10) Get a glass bottom kayak if you can. It's great to see fish swimming under you as you paddle. I'm a bit scared to snorkel, so glass bottom kayaking felt like two activities for the price of one. Take sea-sickness medicine if you're prone to it. The water in this part of Catalina bobs up and down and looking through the glass bottom can disorient you. We ended up paddling back early because I was feeling iffy. Bring a waterproof watch so you can keep track of time for your rental! And take a bottle of water, since you could get thirsty out there! (There is a cubby hole for your water bottle.) read more

Just spent last weekend @ Little Harbor campground. I booked two double kayaks from WET SPOT while boarding the Ferry from San Pedro. The entire phone call lasted less than 3 minutes. The kayaks were waiting for us the next day as we were told. One guy in my group fell ill so I asked the owner of WET SPOT if we could switch out a double for a single. This was not an issue. EXCELLENT easy going customer service, he even gave us pointers and suggestions of which beaches were safe to land the kayaks on. When I got home I called and asked if I could get a refund of the difference from the double kayak to the single one. I left a message with an office worker there. The next day the $20 difference was credited to my account. SUPERB, no hassle service from this operation. I'm not sure what other companies rent this type of gear but dealing with them was a treat. Great job Wet Spot. MM read more

http://catalinaislandexplorer.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/glass-bottom-kayak-tour-coupon-5-off.png $5 off rentals before noon We got a double kayak. It ended up being $55 for a half day, which lasted from 11:45 am- 4:00 pm. The lady at the kiosk was nice, showing up which trails we could do, and approximately how long it would take. We ended up being faster than she predicted, but there didn't seem to be much to see North or South of the locations she mentioned. Kayaking was a blast. The kayak was well balanced, and did not tip over, even though my bf kept intentionally rocking it. Just be sure to ride into the wave, straight on. It can be rocky if you don't. The guy who gave us the kayak explained how to use the paddles, and how to face different situations out there. There were tons of seals, dolphins and fish. There were plenty to see. There were also a lot of beaches you can dock on, and enjoy a lunch at. read more

They were great. Very nice, helpful, and friendly. Never been snorkeling before. They were really helpful and patient with answering all my questions. They recommended Lovers Cove for newbies. We had a great time. Thank you so much. Would totally recommend them. read more

It's a shack right next to the ferry landing. Very convenient, 3 mins from Lover's Cove. I rented mask, fins, long wetsuit for $18, the second hr being free. The lady was also very nice being that it wasn't very busy she held onto my bag for me so I didn't have to rent a locker. Changed into my wet suit right by the shack then walked over to the cove for some snorkeling . . . So easy and low stress! Next time I'm on the island will def look into doing some other activities from this place! read more

I arrived before their opening time and asked if they were open. The guy said yes and the service was fast and friendly. My brother and I rented a double kayak ($35/2 hours). They helped us into it and told us how to paddle and which spots along the coast we could see, and answered all of our questions. They allow you to go as far as you want, and if you are late, they just pro-rate the cost of the overtime. Also they keep your bags in the shack so you don't have to rent a locker. I would highly recommend them. We had a great experience kayaking and stopped at a rocky beach to explore. We also got to see some dolphins in the distance and seals. They're really cute. read more

Wet Spot Rentals - Cute little shack right on the dock. - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

The guys working were super helpful with giving us tips for location to snorkel and kayak. We rented both original for all day but returned a couple hours early due to some clouds and it getting cold and our time was prorated! Awesome customer service and super cheap prices! Equipment was all in good condition we were even able to leave some of our belongings in with the workers while we went out on the water read more

Wet Spot Rentals - So much fun! - Rafting/Kayaking Near Me - Avalon, California

Wet Spot Rentals saved our vacation! Chip and Michelle were wonderful. We'd initially planned to rent kayaks in Little Harbor and kayak all the way to Avalon (with a camping overnight at a boat-in only campsite). Chip very tactfully talked us out of this overly ambitious endeavor, *and* incredibly generously took us and the kayaks from Little Harbor to Two Harbors. The paddle up the coast and against the wind from Little Harbor to the Isthmus would have been miserable, and Chip graciously and gracefully made it possible for us to opt out of that (despite that being my initial, overly ambitious plan). We still had *plenty* of adventure, and weren't too tired to enjoy it. I can't say enough good things about Wet Spot Rentals. I look forward to giving them my business again, and would unhesitatingly recommend them to anyone. read more

Awesome service! The guy who helped us was extremely nice. The prices were very good. We went kayaking, it was really fun! We ended up really sunburnt but overall it was an amazing experience! Will be renting front here again! read more

First time kayaking & it was awesome! The guys who helped us were super friendly & attentive. They weren't rushing or avoiding my questions & even took the time to explain the map and describe the places we could see. Since we were 1st timers they explained how to use the paddles but they forgot to let us know how we should park the kayak on the shore so we actually had a little scary moment trying to get off the kayak & I hurt my knee but my husband & I laugh about it now. Also, if its your first time kayaking, you might want to take some medicine to prevent sea sickness. We will definitely be bringing some next time! It really takes a toll. We rented for 4 hours & were only able to kayak for 2 & had to take a break for about an hour in between our kayaking. read more

Awesome customer service! Michelle and her husband were so friendly and all together genuine. I really enjoyed our time spent with their services. The price was cheap and the freedom to paddle wherever we wanted was a plus. They really made my birthday great! Such an awesome experience. Thank you again read more

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Quick, friendly, no frills service. Prices seem to be comparable with other shops in the area, maybe even cheaper. We got 2 pair of fins (close heeled only) for $5 each for 2 hours. They were also quite lenient on their time limit. It's located as close to Lovers Cove as you can get. However, this place is a bit tricky to find if you're a first timer like I was. We were walking on the other side of the street looking from shops to shops. Actually it's just a small booth on the water right next to Catalina Express ferry terminal. Have fun exploring the water! read more

Reasonably priced and only 2 blocks from Queens (on Waikiki). Half the price that it is on the beach. We even went over our time a bit but they didn't care. Don't forget to ask for your ID back at the end, we forgot ours! read more

i did my research and i think this store has the cheapest rental in avalon. And if you rent before noon, they have a $5 off coupon for $20 rental on their website ;) We rent snorkeling gears and had so much fun at lovers cove!! read more

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Best customer service ever. Very friendly and helpful! Also, kayaks are one of the more competitively priced on the island, plus get $5 off $20 or more rentals before noon with the coupon from their website (http://www.catalinakayaks.com/index.php/avalon-rentals/). They also pro-rate so if you passed the hour, you wouldn't have to pay the full hour (and they even round down to the closest 15 mins). read more

Better pricing than by that beach that everyone raves about (don't waste your time there). Right next to pier. One hour should be enough unless you want to stop at a rocky beach close to shore. read more

My family and I went camping at Little harbor with a few other families, and we rented snorkels, kayaks, and wet-suits for the weekend. They had suits for the youngest (4 yrs old) to large adults. Wet Spot hauled all that gear out there early on a Saturday, picked it up late on a Sunday, and gave us a big discount (1/2 day off). We had a great time, and the staff could not have been more helpful. We rent kayaks from them now every time we go back. read more

Rented a double kayak for Little Harbor. I called the morning of, and they drove out and left a kayak and waiver for me. They were extremely accomodating considering how late I made my reservation. All equipment was in good shape, and on the beach. It was a great feeling to have everything I needed delivered in such an expeditious fashion. Thanks! read more

Great customer service! There was no rushing us, we went when we were ready. We first tried paddleboarding, it was my first time and I didn't really like it. I asked if it was too late to switch to the paddleboat and they were fine with it. Paddleboating to me, takes much less effort and I enjoyed relaxing and boating around the bay. We did it for about an hour. It was a beautiful view of the island and a never ending view of the ocean, we went pretty far out too! I would no doubt do it again, it was definitely something to remember. read more

I've rented snorkeling gear from these guys four times now and haven't had bad service/items once! They give helpful suggestions and I think the prices are fair! And they are the closest to Lover's Cove, a great place to snorkel! You pay for the first hour and the second hour is free. They're also very lenient if you get the gear back to them a little late. Also there's a $5 coupon online if you google the name and "coupon" !!! read more

My first trip to Avalon. Could NOT believe how the local workers attitude at the shops, restaurants and bars are so cheerless and oddly off-putting. The guys at Wet Spot Rentals were the opposite. Helpful, friendly and accommodating! Thanks for being the sliver of sunshine during our June gloom weekend. read more

One of the best tours ever. Our tour guide Chip gave a personal hometown touch and went way out of his way and time to insure we all had an ultimate time. Thanks a lot. read more

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Couldn't ask for better customer service! Michelle and Chip were so flexible and accommodating, working out a long-term SUP rental for us during the off-season in the midst of a pandemic! The equipment was in great shape, the location was super convenient (right near the Catalina Express terminal), and the opportunity to be out on the water with my teenage daughter was priceless. We mostly stayed in the harbor, but we did venture over to Lover's Cove and Descanso Beach, too. We will definitely rent from Wet Spot Rentals again and look forward to seeing Michelle and Chip the next time we're in Avalon - they feel like friends now! read more