What kind of
people go on your sea kayaking adventures?
People a lot like you! Although there is a great variety of travelers who
 participate in our
kayaking trips, one common thing everyone shares is a love of the
outdoors and self-propelled movement through it. Our guests like to be active and
involved. Our average group is made up of an even number of singles and couples and
friends. There is no need to worry about coming alone. Our group size gives everyone a
great chance to get to know each other. Our maximum group size varies from 10 to 13
guests, depending on the location. However, the average group size is
about 6 to 8 persons per kayak tour.
Are there age
limits for the kayak trips?
The ages of most of our guests range from the mid-twenties through mid-fifties. Our
minimum age limit is 16 for some trips. Custom trips can accommodate younger paddlers in
most destinations. In the San Juan Islands we have minimum age limits of 5 and 12
depending on the trip length - please see our
Kayaking Reservations page for more
details in the "Age Limitations" section. There is no upper age limit, although for those over 65 we
prefer to discuss their physical abilities before making a reservation.
I
already have experience. Will my skills improve?
Definitely. Our guides are very experienced kayakers and can instruct you
in many of the finer skills of sea kayaking. They love teaching, so just let them know
what you would like to work on during your kayak trip: navigation, route selection, reading tide
and current tables, braces, or any topic you desire.
Who
are the kayak guides and what skills do they have?
Please click here to learn more about our
professional staff. We are very proud of their experience, training, and skills.
Our San Juan Island sea kayak guides are
primarily biologists and environmental scientists. They will make sure
that you see the most and learn as much as your curiosity will bear.
They are gifted naturalists, teachers, camp cooks, and trip leaders who
have dedicated themselves to continually improve their skills. Our sea
kayak guides undergo the most rigorous and lengthy training program of
any outfitter on San Juan Island. In addition to the previous experience
they bring, our guides must spend two full weeks in our own intensive
kayak guide school. This is a rigorous two-week course where they
learn sea kayaking safety techniques, navigation, weather
interpretation, and much more. Most other
outfitters in this region spend only one to three days in preparing
their guides for this demanding occupation. Some don't provide
any training at all! Here at Sea Quest, we make sure your guides are
properly trained, educated, and fun to be with!
What
do the kayak tour costs include?
Costs include all equipment and guiding for all days listed for your
kayak trip, and all
meals beginning with breakfast on the first day, and ending with lunch on the last day of
your adventure. The only exception to this is our San Juan Island trips in which
participants supply their own lunch. Lodging is included for the night before and after
our Alaska and Baja trips, but not for the San Juan Islands. You must
provide transportation to and from the designated rendezvous town.
Do
I have to be experienced to join a kayaking adventure?
Most of our guests have never been in a sea kayak before. But if you can hike, bike, or swim,
you can paddle our sea kayaks. No previous experience is necessary! Nor do you need any
swimming skills. Anyone in average physical condition may join a kayak
tour. The only
prerequisite is a healthy spirit of curiosity and adventure. Regardless of your age or
skill level you will find that our expeditions offer enough flexibility to make your
experience with us safe and rewarding. We will show you proper sea
kayaking technique and
water safety before leaving the beach. Our boats comfortably hold two paddlers and an
abundance of gear. They are extremely safe and stable, yet swift and easy to maneuver with
foot-controlled rudders. Due to their modern design and safety features, you will never
have to "Eskimo roll" or capsize!
Is sea
kayaking a safe activity?
In our 19 years of company history, and 40+ years of our
founders guiding experience, no one has ever sustained a serious injury on any
kayak trip.
Your safety is our number one concern. In general, sea kayaking is safer
than most other outdoor pursuits - even bicycling!
Will
I be uncomfortable, cold or wet during the kayak tour?
No. Our philosophy is to stay comfortable, warm and dry while kayaking and
camping. The weather in our various trip locations is very pleasant, usually dry, and
daytime temperatures average in the 60's to 80's.
What
is the food like?
Our kayaking adventures are certain to create healthy appetites. For that
reason we provide hot and hearty meals for both breakfast and dinner. Fresh wholesome
ingredients are the foundation of our nutritious, tasty meals. The menus include baked goods, vegetables, salads, fruits, and
edibles we've gathered from land and sea. Your kayak guides are energetic camp chefs and have
been carefully trained in the skillful preparation of delicious, healthy meals. That's why
our guests consistently remark that they are pleasantly surprised by the very high quality
of our kayak camping meals.
Do
I need to get in shape for the kayaking trip?
We recommend you do some regular exercise before the start of your
kayak tour.
Choose activities that use your upper body, arms and shoulders. Expect to get a moderate
workout every day. Sea kayaking is strenuous only when paddling against strong headwinds
and most times this situation can be avoided.
How
much paddling will we do on the kayak tour?
Sea kayaking distance is best measured in hours rather than miles. We
usually paddle from two to six hours each day but this can be influenced by several
factors: weather, tide and currents, and how much kayaking time the group wants. We start
off each kayak tour with a planned route, but there is always some flexibility available. In
fact, remaining flexible in your plans is key to enjoying any outdoor adventure. On calm
days we may choose to paddle a couple of extra hours, or if we know whales are in a
particular area, we may alter our course to increase the chances of an encounter.
When
is the best time of year to go on a kayaking adventure?
All of our kayak trips are scheduled during the optimal periods of best weather
in their specific regions. Any scheduled kayak tour affords an excellent chance of gorgeous
weather. Throughout most of the Pacific Northwest, we average only two days of rain each
week, except in the extremely dry San Juan Islands where we often go two or three weeks
without a single drop. Baja's desert climate yields rain only a few times over the entire
year! Regarding the best times for wildlife, we again schedule our
kayaking adventures to coincide with
the peaks in local abundance.
Do
we always get to see whales on the kayak trips?
Our kayaks trips are designed for whale watching and on the majority of
kayak trips we do see whales. Depending on the tour location,
length of tour, and exact month, your chances can range all the way up to 100%.
Here's an actual example based on our long term records - if you go on a three-day trip in the San Juan Islands during the month of
June you will have an 80% chance of seeing at least one pod of orcas
(killer whales), and often more. Check the trip
details for specifics on each area's whale sightings. Some sightings are very brief or
distant, yet other encounters can involve whales swimming beneath your kayak or lingering
nearby for over an hour. Some trips get to see whales every day and a few unlucky ones
miss out altogether.
 Where will we camp?
We choose our campsites for their beauty, access to wildlife, and ease of landing kayaks.
In some trip areas these may be marine state parks, national parks, water trail sites,
privately-owned, or a variety of the above.
Our main campsite in the San
Juan Islands is known as Orca Camp as it
overlooks the primary killer whale habitat. Orca Camp is privately owned and is
exclusive to Sea Quest. Our guests really enjoy the privacy and the
ability to avoid the overcrowded public campgrounds.
Are
there showers available on the kayak tours?
No, but you can swim regularly as well as take sponge baths to stay clean.
Our campsites are all primitive locations that lack shower facilities.
What
should I pack for the kayak trip?
Other than personal items and clothing, all
you bring is a sleeping bag and pad. When you reserve your space, we will send a complete
checklist with packing instructions. If you follow this advice you will be comfortable
throughout your kayaking adventure.
What
sea kayaking equipment do you use?
Please click here to learn more about our
state-of-the-art equipment. Very simply put, it's the best available! We want your
introduction to sea kayaking and camping to be a good one. That's why we provide
kayaking equipment
designed for comfort, safety, and quality. While on the water or in remote regions, you
won't have to worry about your gear when you're with
Sea Quest.
Do
you provide one- or two-person kayaks? Triple kayaks?
We use tandem (double) sea kayaks on all of our kayak
tours. Triple kayaks are available for families with small children and
can be used to accommodate folks who can't paddle but still want to participate on a
kayaking trip. All outfitters who put
safety as the top priority follow this policy. The reasons for using
tandems or triples are as follows:
•Speed - Length equals speed. Therefore,
the longer waterline of a tandem kayak makes it significantly faster than
a solo kayak. Our triple kayaks are even faster! This is important when a group is faced with crossing an exposed body of water
when weather threatens.
•Stability - The extra width of a tandem kayak provides excellent
stability. You'll appreciate this most in choppy water, and when observing or
photographing wildlife. The greater stability of tandems allows us extra freedom to travel
in a greater variety of sea conditions.
•Flexibility - With tandems we have the option to pair people of different
strengths so the entire group can move at the same pace. No one gets separated from the
group this way. Also, if someone develops a minor injury or illness during the
kayak tour, they
can get relief from paddling by being seated in a tandem kayak. Please note that if
you come with a partner or friend, you can expect to paddle with that
person for the entire trip! The need to change partners occurs
very rarely, and usually only for a brief period of the trip!
Are there exceptions for paddling a solo kayak?
Occasionally, we get a request from someone who wants to
use a solo kayak. There are exceptions to our general rule of using
tandems. If you have taken a sea kayak rescue training class from a
reputable program and can provide documentation of successful completion
from your instructor, it is possible to use a solo kayak on our San Juan
Island and Alaska tours. Sometimes, solo kayaks may be limited and might have to be
shared during the trip, and/or restricted to protected areas in good
weather conditions depending on skill level.
Can
I get more information on your kayak adventures?
Certainly. Review the various pages of our website as there is lots
of information packed into it. You can also call us at 360-378-5767 or email
us with your questions.
How
do I reserve my space on a kayak tour?
Please click here for our page "Make Your
Reservation". It will walk you through all the steps to join one of our
kayak tours. |
