Why Sea Quest Kayak Trips are So Excellent!
Nothing Beats an
Excellent Reputation. Most of our
new guests hear about us from other folks who have done kayak trips with us in the past. If you
haven't already heard about our excellent reputation from a friend, check out our Guest Reviews. Of course, there are a few more things to consider
when choosing a kayak outfitter so please read on.
It's mostly a
matter of experience. Our two principal field directors have a
combined 50 years of professional kayak guiding and management
experience. Not only has Sea Quest been leading kayak tours
as a full-time specialty for
20 years, in some
trip areas we've launched more expeditions than all the other outfitters combined! As the
saying goes, "Practice makes perfect!" You can count on our experience
to make your precious vacation time a memorable success. Our popularity helps, too. It is
very rare when we lack sufficient guests to run an advertised trip. If we are forced to
cancel a trip - and this is extremely rare - we will give you plenty of notice so you can make alternative plans.
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for other less popular outfitters to cancel their trips at the last
minute due to the lack of sign-ups. We should know because we've helped out too many of their unhappy erstwhile
guests!
Expert
Kayak Guides. The most important resource you have in the field is your
kayak guide. That's why we've taken a major step beyond ordinary
kayak outfitters in selecting
and thoroughly training our field staff. Our leaders are chosen
not only for their extensive experience in outdoor instruction, but also for their
comprehensive knowledge of natural history. All expeditions feature guides with academic
credentials and often publications in their field of study. Many have been professional
sea kayak guides for ten or even fifteen years and are involved in biological field
research. You may be surprised to hear your guides referring to individual whales by name,
that's how familiar they are with their aquatic neighbors!
Concern with
Safety. Sea Quest Kayak Expedition leaders are committed to provide you with the
best experience possible - you will find them knowledgeable, enthusiastic, reliable, and
above all, fun! And they will always keep you safe as this is one of their greatest
concerns. In preparation for this responsibility, all our guides have studied coastal
navigation, weather forecasting, and tide/current prediction. They possess Advanced First
Aid certification, CPR training, an expedition first aid kit, a variety of emergency
signal devices, tow ropes, VHF radiotelephones and cellular phones. Our
guided trips in the San Juan Islands feature staff that have gone
through the most extensive in-house training program in our region. Some
companies provide only a couple of days training, if any, while Sea
Quest kayak guides go through a very intense two-week program of safety
skills and rescue drills. We've even had competing companies ask if they
can pay
us to train their guides!
Many kayak companies speak
of having a "perfect safety record". We aren't sure what they mean by
this, but here's our definition: 1) No serious accidents or injuries on
a kayak tour to either a guest or guide, 2) No emergency calls for
outside rescue or medical support due to an out of control capsize
situation, 3) No kayaks or guests lost or sunk at sea. Sea Quest has
fulfilled this standard of a perfect safety record since our inception
19 years ago. In case you are comparing outfitters, you might ask them
about their definition of "perfect" and inquire specifically if any of
these events have occurred on their kayak tours despite their published
claims to the contrary. You might also ask if they carry a general
liability insurance policy that will cover your medical costs and more
should something unusual happen during your kayak vacation. Sea Quest
carries a one million dollar policy, and together with our perfect
safety record, you can kayak with us worry-free!
Office Support. Our office staff are thoroughly familiar with the programs we
operate and will support both you and your guides throughout your experience with us. Our
office is open seven days a week through most of the year. More importantly, whenever
there is a trip in the field, our office staff can be contacted by your guide 24 hours a
day for help in an emergency. In contrast, most outfitters have guides do double duty as
office staff - if they're out kayaking, nobody answers the phone!
Guide/Guest Ratio
& Group Size. Depending on your trip location and group size, you may have from
one to three guides leading your trip. The ratio of guides to guests is 1:4 on challenging
expeditions to 1:8 in gentle waters. Maximum group size is 10-12 guests, again depending on the
trip location. This all means that you get plenty of personal attention and service from
our staff. Small group size also means that we can minimize our impact on the shoreline
environments that we visit.
Superb Camp
Cooking. Our outdoor 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 guides are proud and energetic camp chefs who've 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.
Quality Everywhere
You Look. Our two-person state-of-the-art sea kayaks are extremely swift,
stable and seaworthy craft. Comfort and safety are always the two most important criteria
in the selection of the vessels and gear we provide you. Our tough standards require us to
supply you with the finest quality expedition equipment available and to rotate new gear
into use every year. To make sure it all stays in good shape our guides inspect it before
every trip. We invite you to compare the selection and condition of our equipment with
that provided by other outfitters. And while you're comparing outfitter's sea kayaking equipment, don't forget to ask them if they have adequate
liability insurance, a very good measure of their responsibility. You might be surprised
to learn that many outfitters don't have any financial recourse to
support you in the event of an accident.
We Take Care of
You. Every guest receives an extensive trip information package,
including a detailed packing list and reading list. We provide all your specialized
paddling gear, roomy tents, cooking items, excellent meals, and redundant safety systems.
Your guides excel in their profession and will lead you to the best places they know. They
will prepare your meals, take care of all your camping arrangements, and make sure you
receive the attention you deserve on your vacation. |
Why Our Kayaking Routes are So Great!
Kayaking tours are popping up everywhere these days and you may not be
familiar with the areas being advertised. Naturally, you'd like to know what's so special
about our kayaking routes and how they compare to trip locations you may have heard about
from other outfitters. We chose the Pacific Northwest for
our summer kayaking tours and Baja for our winter destination because we believe they
offer the best combinations of all the elements that make up a great kayaking adventure.
The following are some features you may wish to consider:
Weather.
The Pacific Northwest. Despite its reputation for gray and rainy skies,
this region boasts near-perfect camping and paddling weather from late May through early
October provided you stay far from the ocean coast. Within the glacially carved inland
sea, also known as the "Inside Passage" stretching from Puget Sound through
Alaska, the high temperatures average in the low 70's, there is little rain, and the winds
are usually light. The San Juan Islands of Washington State are particularly dry, due to
their location within the "rain shadow" cast by the Olympic Mountains. This
unusual archipelago boasts the driest microclimate of the entire region. Here, a careful
observer will notice tiny cactus growing beneath towering trees most often associated with
rainforests! Obviously, weather as great as this makes a big difference when you're
outside camping for a week. Further north at our British Columbia and Alaska trip
locations we do experience a bit more rain on an annual basis. However, we minimize our
exposure to inclement weather by restricting our season to the ten driest and warmest
weeks of the year. We do not operate trips to the popular kayaking destinations on the
west coast of Vancouver Island or the Queen Charlotte Islands. These areas receive more
wind, rain, and dense sea fog throughout the summer.
Baja. This is reputedly the most cloud-free area on the planet!
Nothing beats the desert sun and wilderness beaches when the winter doldrums set in. The
clear, dry air is not only good for tanning by daylight. By night, this same transparency
allows so much starlight to shine down you may be dazzled. High temperatures range in the
70's for January and by April you will see the thermometer averaging in the high 80's.
Bugs and other
Nasty Things. You might be surprised to never
once apply insect repellant on one of our trips. Our dry summers in the Pacific Northwest,
and the desert climate of Baja afford very few places for mosquitoes and other biting
insects to breed. There are no ticks in either region, no poison oak or ivy, and little
else to bother us tender-skinned humans. Although the Pacific Northwest has no venomous
snakes whatsoever, Baja does have a few. However, they are nearly all dormant throughout
the winter despite the southern latitude and it takes a skilled naturalist to locate one
during these months.
Access & Cost.
The Pacific Northwest. Our San Juan Island trips meet in the town of
Friday Harbor which is easily accessed by ferry and plane. Further north in British
Columbia and Alaska, travel equally straightforward but more lengthy and expensive. Those
with tight travel schedules or limited budgets will appreciate the convenience of the San
Juan Islands. However, even our northern trip destinations can be reached in a single day's
travel, even from the east coast. Because our adventure destinations have easy access to
goods and services, we can maintain low trip fees. You won't have to pay extra for the
expense of operating in areas with limited access.
Baja. There is a daily flight from
Los Angeles to our meeting point in Loreto, making joining us here relatively easy. More
adventurous travelers with a few extra days on their hands may want to drive the two-lane
highway the length of the peninsula.
Wildlife &
Whale-watching.
Every Sea Quest Expedition is designed as a whale-watching sea kayak trip –
it's our specialty! Our paddling routes traverse the legendary whale retreats in the
proper seasons: orca whales (killer whales) in the San Juan Islands, humpback
whales in Alaska, and both gray whales and
blue whales along the Baja coasts. Sea Quest offers you the very best opportunity to
see and learn about whales and other marine wildlife from the perspective of a sea kayak.
Your guides will plan your travel route and campsites with wildlife encounters in mind.
Don't be surprised if your guide knows certain whales by name! Despite having the best
record of success, and expert guides with extensive knowledge of wildlife habits and
preferred places, we cannot guarantee sightings of any wild species. Sea Quest
does have an excellent record of success with this aspect of the trip and much of our
reputation has been built upon this success. When other outfitters advertise
"special" trips to see whales, they are usually attempting to copy routes we use
on all of our regular expeditions. And none of the other outfitters routinely staff their
trips with actual biologists to tell you more about these amazing animals.
San Juan Islands Kayaking.
One of the most exciting aspects of a sea kayaking trip in the San Juan
Islands is the chance to witness abundant marine wildlife - often at close range. There
are tidepools full of fascinating creatures, more than a hundred bald eagle nests,
thousands of harbor seals, millions of migrating salmon... The San Juan Islands are
one of the premier whale-watching locations in the world. The first park in the
United States dedicated to whale-watching was created here, primarily for viewing the most
dramatic resident of the archipelago, the orca (killer) whale. Pods with up to fifty
family members use the San Juans as their core range. Besides the often-sighted orca,
there are several other species of whales found in these waters. The minke whale, gray
whale, Dall's porpoise, and harbor porpoise are the additional four species most
frequently seen.
Orcas are most reliably observed from late April through early October
with their activity peaking June to July. When averaged through the entire season, orca
whales are seen on nearly two/thirds of our camping trips, but the peak months
historically afford an 80% sighting success rate. In fact, all of our
kayak tours are planned to
visit the orcas' favorite feeding, traveling, and play areas, thereby maximizing your
chances for an encounter with these awesome and inspiring animals. Dall's porpoise are
seen on more than three/fourths of our kayak trips, whereas Minke whales are the most difficult
to locate due to their solitary habits. Other species, such as the gray, humpback, and
white-sided dolphin are less frequently seen.
Many people ask us if it is safe to be in a kayak near orca
whales. The answer
is an emphatic YES! These intelligent predators have never injured a human in the wild.
(Only ill-treated captive whales have harmed people.) Orcas are extremely aware of their
surroundings and NEVER collide with boats. They approach kayakers with the same respect
that we offer them. The resident orcas of the San Juan Archipelago are some of the most
studied and well-known whales in the world; they in turn have observed humans closely for
at least six thousand years. Stable family groups, called pods, represent several
generations from grandmothers (the pod leaders), huge bulls, adolescents, to infants. Each
family member may be recognized by its distinctive markings and can live as much as
seventy or more years. Much of what is known about the orcas' highly-organized social life
has been learned from the resident pods you can observe in the San Juan Islands.
British Columbia Kayaking.
The dynamic shoreline of Cape Caution supports the highest density of gray whales
anywhere along the British Columbia coast. Drawn by tiny bottom-dwelling organisms that
make up their diet, the barnacle-encrusted gray whales abound in the shallow waters near
shore. These 50-foot long whales feast day and night as they layer on fat reserves to fuel
the longest mammal migration known, and their arching backs and flailing tails will be a
frequent sight as we paddle and camp in their habitat. Other whales of the region include
the orca, found traveling in pods of up to 40 individuals in search of migrating schools
of salmon, and the humpback whale, a species which prefers to dine on small schools of
baitfish and krill in more open waters. Pacific white-sided dolphins are the rowdiest
residents, thrilling everyone with their incredible acrobatic displays. Dall's and harbor
porpoises share the same waters, as do harbor seals and the 1500-pound Steller's sea lion.
Marine mammal sightings should be very interesting and plentiful on this expedition.
Alaska Kayaking. As for whales, many varieties
swim the green waters of Alaska. The two kinds we most often see in our explorations, the
humpback and orca, are happily the most acrobatic and socially complicated species in the
world! Other marine mammals, including Dall's porpoises, harbor seals, and the threatened
Steller's sea lion are common kayaking companions. Sea otters gather at favorite kelp
forests along the routes, and gaze endearingly at passing paddlers. Overhead, bald eagles
seem to perch on every point of land as they patiently await migrating salmon. Other
marine birds, such as puffins and murres, gather to nest in noisy rookeries.
Baja Kayaking. Baja conjures up exciting visions
in the minds of adventure travelers. An image shared by many is that of graceful whales
cruising through deep blue water. And rightly so, for the waters surrounding Baja
California abound with an amazing variety of these giant mammals. Each species must seek
out the perfect set of environmental conditions to survive: the right food, temperature,
safe breeding sites, and other important factors are required. Most of the great whales
have evolved survival strategies that include long migrations, months of fasting, and
voracious feasting in very localized areas. As such, whale activity along the opposing
shores of the Baja Peninsula contrasts markedly.
Two of our trips travel the western shore, in sheltered lagoons along the
Pacific Ocean. Laguna San Ignacio and Bahia Magdalena are world-famous for supporting
nearly the entire breeding population of gray whales, a species that has recently
recovered from the brink of extinction. Making an annual migration of up to 6000 miles,
these 50-foot animals take refuge in protected Baja lagoons during January and February.
Winter is their season for birthing, nursing young, and rowdy breeding. Some of these gray
whales have become "friendly" and enthusiastically approach vessels to be petted
and rubbed by the humans on board. Looking into the eye of a whale, and feeling its whole
body shiver from the pleasure of your touch, is an unparalleled wildlife experience!
Sighting gray whales occurs several times each day on these trips.
Our other two Baja trips travel the eastern shore of the peninsula, along
the Sea of Cortez. This isolated sea is one of the last sanctuaries for the globally
decimated blue and fin whales. Compared with other bodies of water its size, the Sea of
Cortez supports the largest and most varied population of whales in the world: humpback,
Bryde's, minke, orca, and sperm also live there. (Our route is carefully planned to take
you to the only known place in the world where blue whales can be encountered by
sea kayak.) From 1991 through 1997 Sea Quest trips had 90% success at sighting large baleen
whales in the Sea of Cortez. Sometimes we saw whales on only a single occasion but on
other trips we had the fortune of seeing them nearly every day. These sightings ranged
from lone individuals cruising the distant horizon to large pods lunging around and
beneath the kayaks! Keep in mind that oceanic conditions are not always consistent, and
that if plankton blooms fail due to a warm-water "El Nino" event, as in 1994,
whale sightings may be scarce. In normal years, our schedule coincides with vast blooms of
plankton that draw the hungry whales in to gorge, sometimes in great numbers. Chances of
seeing these awesome mammals are best from February through April, with a slight peak in
mid-March. During other months the whales are typically widely scattered or have migrated
into the Pacific Ocean.
On either side of the Baja peninsula, our paddling season is also
excellent for seeing playful dolphins, sea lions, and an array of wonderful marine birds.
Due to the overlap of the temperate and tropical faunal zones, the Sea of Cortez boasts
the greatest variety of fishes and marine invertebrates found anywhere along the eastern
shore of the Pacific Ocean.
Click here for reviews and letters from past
guests.
Click here for our kayaking tour
guides page; with photos, biographies, and
references.
Click here for more about our sea
kayaking equipment. |
