What's the smallest diving kayak you think will work?

I would like to start exploring places outside coves, and I think a kayak is the answer. 

What do you think is the smallest kayak that can do the job?  I likely will have to carry it down cliffs.

im not sure there are any kayaks i would want to carry down a cliff !! unless its a remote area like big sur ill just launch somewhere like timber cove and paddle to a spot that few shore divers can swim.

My first yak was 9 ft, I did allot of ab diving from it, but even a half mile in the salt in a 9 ft yak is a long ways. 

How 'bout a dive tube?

JK - I did the 9' boats for a while but they get tippy with the harvest, necessary gear and bumpy-*ss water. I also did the inflatable DiveYak for two, but it gets a little sketchy out there in a blow-up raft with big hooks, gaffs and toothy fish on board. 

I've done 9'.  You can lash some straps through the scupper and wear it on your back, uncomfortable but gets the job done when scaling down cliffs.  You should also check out the banks board, its more practical than a yak for remote dives.

I like to dive off my eight foot wilderness systems ripperz. I weigh A sexy two hundred pounds even. I bring my six foot six inch three hundred pound son to carry down the cliffs for me.

I like to dive off my eight foot wilderness systems ripperz. I weigh A sexy two hundred pounds even. I bring my six foot six inch three hundred pound son to carry down the cliffs for me.

Dude the Raiders could use your son!

i was thinking about a revo but was wondering if it was stable enough.im getting tired (old age)of hiking it over rocks with abs and fish

http://www.hawaiiskindiver.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12596

 Might want to take a look at the Banks Board if you havn't seen it before.   They have a new model out that's larger, more bouyant  then previous models...     Backpack style carrying ability.
      above link is a review.   

Here's a review of the Mainstream Tropic, also called Jazz - a 9' boat that I bought at Coscto many years ago ('01?...) for $300 including a decent paddle and high quality seat (that I still use today on all my boats).  I actually bought two of them.  And a tandem by Mainstream.

http://www.paddling.net/Reviews/showReviews.html?prod=1249

And here are two movies I made using the boat in the ocean for diving and treks down inaccessible beaches.





I recommend something simple and light like this.  We also used to take these exact boats out for big lings and rockfish a mile offshore and they never disappointed.

http://www.hawaiiskindiver.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=12596

 Might want to take a look at the Banks Board if you havn't seen it before.   They have a new model out that's larger, more bouyant  then previous models...     Backpack style carrying ability.
      above link is a review.

That's a neat board dolphin scuba in sac had has them.and they are expensive.the old one was almost 300 that's why I  didn't get one

Check out the Malibu Mini-X. I swear I love that thing. High weight capacity, deep tankwell and paddles pretty darn good for a little guy. Lot's of interior storage. and weighs only 40 lbs so carry like a suitcase or overhead no prob. I've paddled close to 20 miles in it in a day.
I wish I could stick my big wsb gun inside the hatch, but it will hold my 100cm. gun.
Also, you really only need the center hatch and not the two round hatches and the seat well is deep enough to leave an additional seat at home if you want to to keep it simple.
http://www.malibukayaks.com/kayak_minix.asp

Ditto on the Mini-X you can carry it with 1 hand it doesn't track as well as a longer boat so for short trips it would be fine, great river boat also. Lot of fun in the surf.

I use the trident 13. its light enough, (without fishfinder battery and stuff), to just throw up on your head. the balance is perfect. the handles are in the center of gravity when your head is on the rodpod. with the 13 you can also paddle for days and not get tired