Pursuing instruction is beneficial to becoming an independent paddler.  Learn how to make the sea kayak an extension of yourself!

The vast variety of conditions and challenges you can experience on the ocean, lakes and rivers requires an ever-growing knowledge and intimacy of: boat handling skills and maneuvers, rescue techniques, navigation, backcountry/wilderness living, and the marine environment.
The past 17 years of coaching, instructing, and guiding, along with training and certification through British Canoe Union, American Canoe Association and International Sea Kayak Guide Association allows us to offer the greatest synthesis of this experience.

Pursuing instruction also allows you to join us and others on increasingly more challenging and exciting trips.  Check out the Multi-day and Expedition pages for the range of trips we offer.

The series of courses below allows you to choose a progression or jump from one progression to another.  The courses are scheduled such that there are multiple opportunities each month for all the courses. For additional information see course description and course schedule pages.

Flat Water Courses

Getting Started:

Introduction to Paddling:

Learn the basics strokes and rescues applicable to sea kayaking, river kayaking, or packrafting. This is a great way to learn about all the appropriate gear, put it on, and go play on the water.   It’s fun and educational; the perfect way to satisfy your curiosity about paddle sports.  
Course is 7 hours
$275/person including dry suit, kayak and gear.
Offered daily with a 2 person minimum
Venue: flat water
ACA Level 1

Sea Kayaking Fundamentals: ACA Level 1 and 2

2 days of kayak control and maneuvering skills, rescue techniques and trip planning: discussions about what to bring with you while kayaking and why to bring it, interpreting weather forecasts, reading charts and maps.
 
2 day course
$450/person including dry suit, kayak and gear
Offered evey weekend.  4 person minimum
Venue: flat water
ACA Level 1

Balance, Bracing, and Rolling:

Low and High Brace, Sculling, Rolling, blade articulation and a variety of techniques to challenge these skills.
4 hour session
$200/person including dry suit, kayak and gear.
Offered daily, 2 person minimum

Comprehensive I:
Solid Foundations

This is the 1st in our series of comprehensive courses:
Whether your new to sea kayaking and looking to get a solid grip on this sport,
This course is the guide training program we put together for outfitters and lodges looking to get their guides a comprehensive course. However, covering: flat water skills, maneuvers and recues, seamanship: chart and map reading, tides and current, VHF radio overview and protocol, signaling devices, repair and safety gear. Please see the links below for course syllabi.
Level 1 Introduction to Kayaking
Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring
Level 3 Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes and Rescues
Level 3 Coastal Kayak Stroke and Maneuver Refinement
Level 2 Essentials of Kayak Touring Trip Leader

5 Days
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.
$650/person, 4 person minimum
Venue: Coastal waters with slight wind, waves, and current

Introducing Conditions: Wind, Waves, and Current

Take your flat water skills into conditions!   Continue with the model of building upon the solid foundation established in the Flat Water Courses.  These courses begin to reveal the truly dynamic nature of sea kayaking.

Beyond the Fundamentals: ACA Level 3

Refining your skills and taking them into conditions.  Once you’ve mastered the basics, take it up a notch!  Learn how to blend strokes for more complicated maneuvers and rescues while managing minor wind, waves and or current.

2 Day Course
$450/person, 2 person minimum
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.

Introduction to Current

As the name implies, this is a current specific course.  Even minor current puts your flat water skills to the test.

1 Day Course
$275/person, 2 person minimum
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.

2 Day Course
$450/person/2 person minimum
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.

4 Day Current Course
$550/ person, 4 person minimum
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.

Balance, Bracing, and Rolling:
Similar to our flat water course, but now in slight conditions.
4 hour session
$200/person including dry suit, kayak and gear.
Offered daily, 2 person minimum

Embracing Conditions: Intermediate Wind, Waves, and Current

Here again we build upon the confidence and experience gained from Flat Water and Introduction to Condition courses putting you in more challenging and dynamic conditions.

Intermediate Current: ACA Level 4

There are many places where the sea behaves like a river!  Learn where this occurs and why this happens, all while taking your skill set to the next level.  Learn how to embrace theses areas  and seek them out as a source of challenge and play.  

2 Day Course
$450/person/2 person minimum
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.

Comprehensive II:
Putting it all together

5 days of camping, kayaking, learning and FUN!
This is the 2nd in our series of comprehensive courses.  We’ll be looking for wind, waves and current to continue challenging your intermeditate skillset. More advanced trip planning, navigation, rescues and skills while on the move.

$650/day minimum 4 people
Includes dry suit, kayak and gear.