by Debbie McKeown In Search of Sea Legs Six months ago, I had never been in a sea kayak. I had not yet experienced the joy of gliding through clear water under a moody evening sky, navigating a quaint village of floating homes, or watching a harbor seal’s head pop up a few feet from my boat. Although I still have much to learn, I am quickly growing to love this fun and accessible sport. Sea kayaking is experiencing a surge in popularity, and it’s no surprise given that it is easy to get started, a great workout, and a low-impact way to access so much of North America’s fabulous natural beauty.

My interest in sea kayaking was sparked by a desire to explore Baja, California’s marine wildlife and outstanding scenery. Kayaking seemed an excellent way to do this, while leaving little footprint on the delicate ecosystem. So, despite our lack of experience, last spring my husband and I signed up for a 5-day guided excursion in stable double kayaks. Within a short time, our excellent guides had us moving through the water more-or-less in the direction we wanted. What our paddle strokes lacked in efficiency, we made up for in sheer enthusiasm. As we skimmed through the water, we felt a part of the natural Baja environment, akin with dolphins, whales, and sea birds. We were hooked. 'Yak Addict Back home in British Columbia, I began to investigate ways I could advance my skills and become more independent on the water. A quick Internet search revealed numerous possibilities: adventure tour companies specializing in sea kayak courses and tours abound, and it’s really just a matter of doing a bit of research and choosing one convenient to your home or desired destination. If you live near the water, there is likely an affordable community-based program offered in your area. In my own area, I found a intro program for just $95 through my home city’s recreation department. Since I was taking the course solo, I decided to register for a Level 1 women’s course which included six hours of instruction over the course of two evenings. It’s hard to imagine a more diverse group, ranging in age from 20 to 55. One woman planned to eventually kayak with her teenaged son; another was a new mother using kayaking as a fitness tool; and yet another quiet young woman was simply eager to try something new despite her cultural need to remain fully clothed and covered both in the water and out. Safety First Before we took to the water, we were given dry land training, including safety procedures and an equipment overview. When we did hit the see, we concentrate on paddling and rescue skills before heading out. The single-person sea kayaks we used felt somewhat less stable than the two-person or double kayak I had used with my husband in Baja, but nonetheless as we learned and practiced several basic strokes to propel and steer the kayak, everyone began to develop a good level of comfort. The next phase of the course involved learning rescues. In other words, it was time to get wet. We all felt a little nervous about the solo self-rescue, which means rolling into the water, uprighting the kayak and finally getting back into the boat unassisted. But with the proper equipment and training, it actually does work. We cheered loudly as one after the other of us performed the rescue, coached by our instructor who was always close at hand. After proudly accepting my certification of completion, I immediately signed up for Level 2, a more theoretical course teaching trip planning, tides, and navigation. Paddle On Taking courses, as I did, is an excellent way to develop proper paddling skills and safety awareness. I now feel comfortable and am qualified to rent a kayak for day excursions in calm conditions. For ocean or rougher paddling, multi-day trips and anything that requires more advanced navigation, I will still hire a qualified guide while I continue to learn and build confidence. There are many excellent companies that offer guided sea kayaking excursions of varying length. I highly recommend Sea Kayak Adventures, who organized our Baja trip. They also operate multi-day camping and lodge-based trips to northern Vancouver Island (in British Columbia, Canada), specializing in opportunities to view orcas. Sea Kayaker magazine is an excellent source of information and inspiration. The “SK Community” link provides details on kayak clubs worldwide, as well as a forum to discuss a variety of issues connected with kayaking. Canoe and Kayak magazine is a similarly valuable resource which will help you learn about popular destinations, inspirational stories and strategies to make you a better kayaker. Be sure to check out AdventureHolidayTravel.com's section on kayaking equipment to learn more about what you'll need and where to find it!