Descanso Beach Ocean Sports

Highly recommend this rental spot. The first time we went my husband and I rented a kayak and snorkeling gear for two. It was so nice to have four wide hours in which to explore, there was no clock ticking on our rental. we got a nice long paddle in. Snorkel gear is one price for the day. Pitts was enormously helpful as we grilled him with questions about where to go and the best snorkel spots, the staff walked us through everything from loading our boat to putting us out to sea. We followed Pitts' advice and checked out some really amazing coves, we snorkeled with sea lions, saw beautiful fish. We got the boat back early and took the snorkel gear out right in Descanso and saw a world of sea life. Personable crew--we felt like they would have our backs if something came up. Nothing was stressful about the rental which is what you want on vacation.

Rented a kayak for half the day to get to willow cove. Staff was super friendly and helpful, answered all sorts of questions. Would highly recommend for watercraft and gear rentals! Next time would likely do a tour as it being off season didn’t see any other kayakers.

We rented a double kayak for an hour and had a great time. Very helpful and efficient staff who made the process easy. Luckily we got to see plenty of sea life!

I came to DBOS for my first and only day on Catalina Island, and was given terrible service by the curly haired, older guy with a neck beard who was on duty. He was short and sarcastic and unwelcoming. I hardly ever write reviews but he was so rude that I was genuinely surprised and baffled, it almost ruined my experience.

They closed at noon on a weekend because they employees didn't want to work. Would not reopen. Beautiful weather on a holiday weekend. No manager available to talk to. Disappointed a bunch of kids. Terrible management to allow that. The photo is of no fog, which they claimed was the closure reason.

Our kayak day was a bit rainy, but the forecast looked promising so Javier was willing to go out with us provided the weather didn't get worse. We're happy we went since the sun came out and it ended up being a beautiful day for kayaking. The water was FREEZING so we only lasted 30 minutes snorkeling, even with wetsuits. We saw sea hares and their eggs, Javier pointed out leopard sharks, tons of garibaldi, and lots of little blue fish that I don't know the name of. Because of recent rains, there was also a waterfall at Willow Cove.

Very rude…. Sitting on beach 40 ft from the stairs on the sand in chairs and they came up and said we had to move. I told them we are in tide line on a state beach. They said it does not matter move. I refused Another lady came up, started telling us to move. I told her no that I was going to record this then they left us alone. They should not be telling people to move and relocate on a state beach when they have no right to it If they would’ve came up and asked nicely, we would’ve moved, but they came up and said we had to move. They demanded it.

Had an AMAZING experience snorkeling off the Casino Park and Descanso Beach. The kelp forests are truly spectacular and so accessible. And they HAD PRESCRIPTION GOGGLES which worked really well, so if you show up in glasses they can help you out. I wanted to go snorkel but totally forgot to put my contacts in and was so bummed until we found these guys. I went to every snorkel shop in Avalon basically looking for a solution and they were the only one that had one... So I can also report that they had very fair prices perhaps the lowest of anywhere. We asked them about a thousand questions and they were very patient and friendly. Overall A+ experience.

They say they are open until 5pm. We get there 2:15pm and they say they are done for the day. It sounds like they didn't feel like working anymore on Sunday. Super frustrating and made my 4yo daughter so sad :( They need to hire more energetic people. Super lazy people there... terrible service...

We had a blast! We did the 4 hour not-so-early special which was so affordable. It came with the kayak and paddles, life vests, wet suits, a dry bag for our personal items, snorkel masks and fins, and a cooler for lunch. The staff was helpful and get us all set up. We appreciated how independent we got to be, they just gave us the equipment and got us out on the water!

We had a great time. The cabana on the lawn was perfect. I highly recommend coming here if you have a few days in Catalina. Plan on spending the day here. It is a splurge but well worth it!

We love going kayaking fish in Catalina. Every time we go, we don't have to worry about bringing one since DBOS always have them ready for us. The staff is wonderful, always helpful to launch is out to the ocean, and catch us back safely. Honestly, if you are not getting on a kayak or a SUP when you are in Catalina, you are missing out. And Descanso Beach Ocean Sports is the right place to go!

I was here a few weeks ago with my boyfriend for our anniversary, and we had so much fun! Rentals were super affordable, and the staff were super kind and informative (Thank you Aurora)! Definitely a must do if you're up for an adventure!

10/10 service. Worth every penny! Buy the photo package!! Tip the boat guys! They deserve it!

I booked online, and everything went smoothly. They are located right off the cruise dock, so it was very convenient. My kids (ages 9-18) had a great time.

My family and I took a day trip to Catalina for my mom's birthday to do a little kayaking, snorkeling and lunch. DBOS was amazing. Aurora was so friendly and helpful getting us all the gear we needed for our kayaking and snorkeling adventure. We can't wait to come back and do it again.

The staff was very friendly and helpful. We had a great day of kayaking and snorkeling in a great location. Highly recommend!

Whether you wish to kayak, do stand up paddle boarding or snorkel, this ocean sports company has it all! I booked a private guided tour to Turtle Rock and it was one of the most relaxing tours I did on the Island. My tour guide - Danly, was so much fun! I loved his stories and the overall calm, friendly vibe that he exudes. Water activities are a must do and kayaking is great for all ages. While booking a self-guided activity is fun, I recommend a guided one just so you can have a history behind your activity! You can wear your face mask if you wish but it is not required as being on a kayak allows plenty of social distancing.

My partner and I did the not so early bird special, such a good deal!! We received a kayak, snorkel gear for 2 + dry bag and food cooler for 4 hours. Came out to $103 with tax. They even have prescription goggles for those with bad vision (like me).

DBOS is the BEST!! Aurora and the team are fantastic! We visited them and rented three kayaks plus gear (for 6 people) when we were on Catalina Island for a cruise stop in Feb. '23. We did the independent sea kayak option with all the gear (which was everything we could need!) Communication and help before hand was excellent. And when we arrived the friendliness and service was even better! I give Descano Beach Ocean Sports our highest recommendation! Great prices, great staff, great options, great FUN! One of the best cruise port experiences we've ever had. We booked them independently b/c none of the cruise line excursions appealed to us. GREAT CHOICE. If you're considering an activity on Catalina Island, don't hesitate. Contact Aurora at DBOS. You'll be very happy you did! (TIP: If you don't want to get your clothes wet, get the scuba suit. Trust me, you WILL get wet.)

My family and I were walking to the Descanso restaurant and we asked a lady who was working at the Sports Kiosk where the entrance was to the restaurant because it has an open concept. She answered back "Just go in sis" with a rude attitude, super unwelcoming and unprofessional vibe. We definitely won't be attending any water activities here. Don't recommend.

Great experience kayaking to Frog Rock. Informative tour and we were lucky enough to see sea lions and dolphins! Went at a steady pace and had time to explore on land. Definitely recommended and would go again.

The best money ever spent was the "Not so early bird special" I reserved my BF and self a tandem kayak for 4hours to a private beach with snorkeling gear and cooler for a picnic and a waterproof bag. The crew was great at giving us instructions.

Catalina Island Kayak Expeditions was one of the excursions you gotta do and a great workout. You have a choice to have a guided tour or venture on your own. We chose the guided tour for an educational informative experience and things and sites were pointed out about its history and just fun facts.

What a day!!! Hubby and I celebrated our 10 th year anniversary!!! We reserved lounge chairs a month ago Today was above and beyond!! We were greeted with happy friendly faces. She led us to our chairs and introduced us to ALEX. HE WAS THE BEST!! All i wanted to do today was sit and relax In the sun We didn't have to get up for anything!!!! A drink always in hand. We snorkeled and got sun! The ONLY thing I might say is music. I wanted to hear some vacation type music. But i played my own and Alex said they had charges. We always had water. Always had drinks. They took out Trash and fixed the umbrellas all day. Got the best dinner suggestions ever!!! Took him up on it. Loved it here and will be back!

Friendly, genuine people work here, and they don't try to rip you off. We rented kayaks here, and then went back to snorkel the next day. A tandem kayak for an hour ran us a total of $35, and snorkeling for an hour (including wetsuit, snorkel, and life jacket) ran us about $20 each. The staff were very knowledgeable and helped us with recommendations, getting started, etc. They were really laid back and honest about what we would realistically need, how cold the water was, where we could find fish, etc. We had a great experience both times and I would really recommend renting from here over all of the other kayak and snorkeling rentals on the island. I cannot commend the staff enough. The equipment was kept clean, and we got to see a bunch of fish!

Did the kayak tour to frog rock, it was a great experience. Tour guide Donald was very knowledgeable about the history of the island,and very friendly. The tour was about 2.5 hours long. The staff on the island was great too! I would definitely recommend this, and would do it again!

We had one of the most AMAZING experiences today on our private Kayak tour with Andy. We were all able to make it to a private beach and have a much needed picnic before snorkeling. Our guide, Andy was excellent! He helped us all improve our Kayaking skills. Andy had tons of water,snacks and sandwiches on his Kayak for us all. Andy made our 4 hour journey so memorable: Thank you! Jake helped us with our wet suits and snorkeling gear-Thank you. I Highly recommend you treat yourself to this magical excursion. In gratitude, The Abels Family San Marcos, CA

We booked a private 8-hour tour to celebrate my close friend's PhD graduation, and it was incredible! Our guide, Scott, was amazing -- super knowledgeable about the island. He led us up a hiking trail off the beaten path, where we tried lemonade berries, native cherries, and even spotted a fox in his native habitat!! Taking our experience level into account, we kayaked roughly 6-7 miles. It was great to have lunch, snacks, and drinks brought on tour for us (they took our sandwich orders in advance). We were so busy kayaking and snorkeling that we didn't even get to have all the snacks! Scott never made us feel rushed. They even had -7 prescription snorkeling goggles (I'm always happy not to have to wear contacts -- a pleasant surprise!). We had the best day -- thanks so much to Mary and the team for a seamless experience! I hope to come back again in the future!

The service was amazing! I came with a group of 9, some who have gone kayaking already and some who were experiencing it for the first time. They were very professional, informative, and knowledgeable.There was someone who showed us the best place to go, someone who taught us how to kayak and pulled us back in when we were finished. We rented 3 double kayaks, 1 single kayak, wet suits, and snorkeling equipment for 2 hours. It was a fair price and everything was in good condition. There is a student discount, and you get the second hour free for snorkeling.

The kayaks were fine. The people working the stand at check in (in the morning) were rude. The could care less about helping us and giving any advice. They could barely answer any of our questions, it was like they were put out to help us and take our business. The guy who gave us the paddles was really nice and helpful.

My partner and I recently did the Frog Rock kayak tour (about 2.5 hours round trip), and had such a great time! Donald was our kayak tour guide, and made the experience so much fun! We will definitely be back to rent kayaks in the future.

The location of Descanso Beach Ocean Sports attracts a lot of tourists, including myself, as there is a cool looking bar and restaurant right next to their booth. The hourly price of $25 isn't bad at all, considering the other competitors are a ling walk from Descanso Beach Club. As with many SUP rental companies, you can't expect the nicest boards or paddles, as they are meant to take abuse over time and last for a while. The raceboard was heavier than I am used to, but was glad that they did have raceboards available. They cut through the chop better than touring boards. The guys who take your board and life jacket from you, at the end of your session, need lessons in customer service. Nobody said anything welcoming or appreciate the business. The guy who took the board told me to "hop off" the board, even though there are tons of rocks that I would land on. They don't say, "thank you" or "have a nice day" or anything other than basically to give me the board and life jacket. Basically punks with attitudes.

We had a lovely time! Everyone was so nice. I called last minute to ask if they had a kayak tour available and they were able to accommodate the next morning. When we showed up they said the water less than ideal and winds were picking up so they offered us a full refund if we didn't wish to go anymore. But we decided to brave it and had a great time. Donald was our guide he was a great guide. The kids really liked him. One of our favorite activities on this trip. They even provided us with windbreakers to keep us dry. If you're visiting Catalina I definitely recommend a kayak tour to Frog Rock :)

The adult staff in the morning were really awesome. But they also have really rude, unhelpful, lazy teenagers working there in the afternoon. For example, landing time, they didn't help us land even though that's literally their job. Then stood and watched us haul equipment to the return booth. My.leg was bleeding profusely and this little brat kid said "hey can you carry up the paddles too" as we walked along side me, empty handed, to the same location. Kind of ruined it for me. I won't go back due to this experience. I gave a three because the morning staff were so great. But the teenagers there at around noon were....disappointing.

Aurora and Analisa were very helpful. Customer service overall was the most friendliest of all stores in Catalina. We debated which kayak or snorkeling store to go to and they had the best price from all the stores. Btw, what's happened to all the Joe's stores? It's been only 5 years and 90% of all Joes are gone?!

Want to have some adventures in Avalon? This is a good place to start. They have kayaks, body suits, life vests, and snorkeling gear available for rent. The prices are reasonable, as there is not much competition in the area. The employees are friendly and will give you some tips to make your trip safe and fun. The water is pretty nice in this area, just be careful of the rocks along the beach! You can see some great fish, and maybe some dolphins and sea lions too! 2 person kayak- 1 hour for $30, 2 hours for $40. They give you a 15 minute grace period as well. One hour is enough to get to frog rock and back.

Great kayaking experience! Luke our tour guide was amiable and helpful! Everyone was very friendly from checking in to end of our 2 hour kayaking! Keep up the awesome job! Will definitely be back!

This was my second time taking the Journey to Frog Rock kayak trip with this company and both experiences have been excellent. The staff are helpful and friendly, the gear is easy to use, and the location is perfect. Will definitely be using this company again the next time we're on Catalina Island.

Excellent customer service (especially when it was my fault for misreading my check-in time)! The staff were so friendly and helpful, and the kayaking trip was definitely worth the money. 10/10 would recommend, and will definitely be back in the future!

Took my mother for her 65th birthday. She had never been on a kayak and was very nervous. Our guide, Luke was fantastic and had a great personality! He made us feel relaxed, safe and well versed in the island. I was pleasantly surprised that the water proof bags they provide are free and also large for any belongings you want to bring. We saw a sea lion and had so much fun. Would definitely do it again!!

We had such a great time kayaking to Frog Rock. Our guide, Patti, was very kind, patient, and an informative source of island and ocean details. Although the kayaks had been booked up, Descanso went the extra mile to arrange a private guided trip for our family of 8 adults and 3 children. This adventure was the highlight of our day trip to Catalina!

My family consisting of my wife and two teen girls did several activities thru Descanso Beach. The kayak to Frog rock was just one. The Kayak trip was led by Tom and he was a super nice guide full of interesting facts about Catalina and kayaking and the ocean. We also did the Aerial Adventure which was super fun. I was amazed at how fearless the kids were. I think the highlight was the zip lining though. Matt was one of our zipline guides, and he was hilarious not to mention he had a lot of fun information about the ecology of the island. I recommend all of these activities if you have the time.

Had a great experience on my birthday :) My husband and I made reservations for the Frog Rock tour. It was our first time but definitely not our last thanks to how much fun Cruz, our guide, was. He knew so much about the island and had a great sense of humor as well! My husband loves nature so he was asking questions nonstop and Cruz had an answer for everything! I would definitely recommend booking a tour with DBOS. Judging by the other reviews, these people are good at what they do. Cruz of you read this, thank you so much again for being incredibly awesome. You made our trip fun and unforgettable :)

They have good change rooms to change and make you feel accommodated. The kayak tour was very short could have been more . The kayak guide was good

My wife and I signed up for the Journey to Frog Rock tour during our stay, and when we checked in, we learned we were the only two on the tour (10 am Monday morning) so we basically got a private tour! Our guide's name was Luke, and he was amazing. Neither of us had been kayaking before but it was very easy to pick up, and Luke was very patient and helpful as we figured it out. Since it was just the two of us, we made really good time and actually went down even further than Frog Rock before pulling out and resting for a while for the return trip. Luke was very knowledgeable about the island and very friendly. We would definitely recommend this tour!

The place was easy to find. It was like 6 minutes walk from our hotel. They provide amazing service which was very appreciated. Our tour guide name was Javier. He was very informed almost about everything and very funny. He'll try his best to show the most in the 2 hours which I find difficult consider all the cool things were under water. He was able to find some sharks for us to see which made the trip even better. And encourage us to even look further to the view to spot dolphins. The service, the tour... all of it was amazing. RECOMMEND!!

Spectacular! This excursion was the highlight of our vacation. The company is family run and everything is done really well. First they give you a little tour of the island, telling you about its history. Then they give you instructions about how to use your kayak and outfit you. They have water shoes, water pants, jackets, waterproof pouches for your stuff, and life jackets--in short, everything you need. They also give you a bottle of water to sip as you go. The guide led us into the ocean and told us all about the island and its wildlife. We rowed for a bit more than a mile until we reached Frog Rock, a beach that is only accessible by kayak. There we explored the beach, collected shells, and enjoyed a yummy cookie. Then we headed back to the base, enjoying the clear water, spectacular views, and the warm December sun. It was a wonderful trip and we give them our highest recommendation.

We had such a great experience with Donald. He was very informative and explained how to kayak perfectly. Can't wait go to back next summer. Thank you so much!

I came to Catalina for a friends birthday and we decided to book the willow cove kayak tour for nine people. Reasons why I believe this was totally worth the $104 dollars. 1) they provide all the gear from wetsuits, snorkel gear, flippers, water shoes and even water and food! 2) you kayak for about 2.5 hours which is a pretty decent amount of time 3) you get to snorkel for about 30 mins ~ 1 hour so worth it 4) they even prepare for you a nice lunch which was absolutely delicious! 5) our tour guide Bryan was the absolute best!! He is a really awesome tour guide I would totally recommend him if you can !! Overall great experience! Just make sure you get enough sunblock on because you will burn.

The staff here are amazing. Mary, Aroura, and Jake were extremely friendly and went above and beyond to make sure I enjoyed my trip. I rented two kayaks for 3 days. I kayaked to Whites Landing for camping and did a couple day trips near by for snorkeling. Total cost was around $250 which is extremely reasonable! The equipment was in great shape. I will definitely be utilizing their services again. Thanks again so much!

Our first time ever in Catalina Island and we decided to kayak to our camp at Long Point. Mary the owner of Descanso Sports set up our reservation and took the time to explain how it all worked. When we arrived Jake and the crew were so helpfull. They gave us bags to protect our stuff told us how to pack our kayaks and let us store some bags that weren't needed on our trip. Before leaving they gave us pointers and and help us on our way... The first hour was beautiful and fun but we were kayaking against the wind on mile two and the sea got very choppy and we started to struggle to make headway.. We stopped at Hermits camp and had thankfully got some cell service, called Jake at Descanso. He helped set up the Baywatch rescue and 30 min later we were back in Descanso safe and sound. We are so so so grateful for all their help and for not making us feel like idiots. They were the sweetest kindest people ever. Thank you! We will be back!

Lily was amazing the kids had a fantastic time on the adventure thank you for taking the time out and showing them everything they needed to know

I rarely write two reviews for the same business--especially after giving a five star review initially. After all, according to yelp, five stars = "Woohoo! As good as it gets!" But, Descanso Beach Ocean Sports has entered--in my mind--that rare echelon of yelp greatness that few other establishments can ever hope to approach: THE DOUBLE FIVE STAR REVIEW. Allow me to explain. It's been a while since my brother and I got to hang out, so this past weekend, the two of us hopped on a ferry and made our way over to Catalina. After getting off the Catalina Flyer, we made a beeline for DBOS because we figured everyone would be renting kayaks on such a beautiful day. The sun was shining, the clouds were nowhere to be found, and the wind was almost non-existent. But! Even though the weather looked optimal, I made it a point to ask the DBOS rep about wind conditions on the way back (just in case), but she confirmed that there wouldn't be any. If anything, the wind would be to our backs and would help bring us back in. Perfect! So David and I got set up with a tandem yak and off we went toward Willow Cove, a good hour of paddling from Descanso Beach. We got to the cove, banked the kayak, explored, and snorkeled for a good hour. But while we were snorkeling, we noticed the water getting noticeably more turbulent. Afraid we wouldn't return in time, we decided to head back. And good thing we did! When we got back in the water, the wind and the waves really started to pick up! The wind was so strong, it felt like we were paddling in mud. After struggling for about half an hour (and realizing that we still had a whiles to go), I heard a boat come up from behind us. (Oh brother, I thought. These guys are going to make waves with their boat so that we get capsized. We're screwed!) But to my surprise, their actions were the exact opposite! They asked us if we needed a lift. I thought they were joking...but it turns out...they were from Descanso Beach! They had driven a boat all the way out to where we were so that they could offer us a ride back! We were saved! And it turns out that the one who saved us, Randy, was the owner of DBOS! And I didn't even realize it until now, but Randy was also the one who helped me the first time I used DBOS! I hadn't been in need of an open-water rescue back then, but it just goes to show the sort of consistent and kind folks they have over at DBOS. Big thanks to Randy and the rest of the crew who helped us out! We love Descanso Beach Ocean Sports!

This place was absolutely awesome. Three months later, I'm still talking to everybody about how this was the BEST part of the State side portion of my trip to Mexico. First, I paid maybe $50 (if that) for a three hour expedition. The whole place is family run and they couldn't be more friendly people. Randy was the owner, and the guide who picked me up from the dock and gave a little historical tour on the way to the beach. He's super funny and friendly! Randy's daughter works the cash register and tells you that with the expedition you get equipment for free. We were given the use of dry bags and wet suits (separates, not one big suit) to wear while out on the ocean. You also get your certificate of completion from her when the tour is over. The tour guides were AMAZING. I had never been kayaking before, and I left my vacation partner back at the docks. I'm SO glad I got a single person kayak. It is so thrilling to be out on the ocean, and to look over the side and see fish swimming underneath you. I wish I could have stayed on the ocean all day. Kayaking is an excellent workout, and we took a cookie break (also included) on turtle rock. Our guides gave us a history of the island while we were out on the ocean - it's like a historical walking tour, but in a kayak. Hands down, best experience I've had in a long time. I want to go back so badly. Don't worry about being a novice - it's really easy. There was even an 8 year old girl and her dad in one of the two person kayaks (granted, her dad did a lot of paddling when she got too tired.) I would 10000% recommend going out on any number of kayaking expeditions with this company. I had a great experience that I can't wait to do again!

I love the beach...I love drinking. To have both of these things are the same time (legally) is a dream come true. Additionally this beach is beautiful, the water is clean and the waves are...there is none! perfect for wimps like me. It costs $2 for adults and is free for children under 12. The reality of the matter is that it's free for everyone you just walk in, no one checks. First things first, the bar! My boyfriend and I got a pitcher or this lemonade stuff...Kettle one and lemonade, strong as fuck for $25. It says it serves 5 people but I don't buy it. It's good for 2. They have servers walking around on the sand ready to bring your drunk ass a drink. perfect-o. Now why did I dock 2 stars from this seemingly heavenly beach? #1. It's tiny, shit gets packed! #2 and most importaint. there is no sand..only rocks. This tears up your feet! I wanted to cry..at one point i just wanted to give up and stand there till someone came to pick me up and carry me back. Some lady on the shore was literally laughing at me & yelling that I needed shoes - thanks bitch. Apparently they sell them there but I was to traumatized to venture back out. Drinking on the shore is just fine with me.

Loved all the staff, everyone was so friendly. They made our morning tour to Frog Rock great. John our guide was friendly and had so much knowledge about the island. Thank you for making a very enjoyable morning for us :)