Descanso Beach Ocean Sports guide Micah Phillips, 35, counts out the proper number of kayaks before tourists arrive to take a guided wildlife kayak tour on the front side of Catalina Island. The three-hour tour leaves from Descanso Beach and goes northwest. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
As members of the guided wildlife kayak tour gather around him, Phillips, at right, explains about the animals they might encounter. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Evelyn Weimenn of Moerfelden Germany, reacts as a harbor seal pokes its head through the kelp forest as she and her sisters take a guided wildlife kayak tour. The seal stayed in this position for several minutes and didn’t seem interested as the kayakers passed by. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
A harbor seal pokes its head out of the kelp forest as tourists taking a guided wildlife kayak tour pass him by. The tourists didn’t seem to interrupt his restful repose. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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Debbie Davis, front, and Yvonne Ojeda get a workout as they paddle along on the front side of Catalina Island. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
One of three bald eagles that frequent the Frog Rock area breezes by a group of kayakers. The eagle had been eating a fish behind some trees and took off after he finished. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
A Pacific loon paddles past tourists on a guided wildlife kayak tour. The tour left from Descanso Beach and went northwest past Frog Rock, where the loon entered the water. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Tourists take a break from paddling and take a guided hike at Fox Canyon. The group saw native plants, a huge spider and some poison ivy, but stopped short of the stream because yellow jackets frequent the area near the water. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
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A tourist holds a shark egg sac that he found on rocky Fox Canyon beach as he and his group took a break from paddling. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
On a guided hike at Fox Canyon beach, the group sees this huge spider. The spider’s web was so strong that it wouldn’t break even when plucked like a guitar string. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Shells are nestled among the pebbles on rocky Fox Canyon beach. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
Carlos Martinez, 24, foreground, who has lived on Catalina Island all his life, hauls in the kayak for Yvonne Ojeda. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)
