COVID 19: Frequently Asked Questions About Kayak Tours during the Pandemic

COVID-19

Alaska Sea Kayaking

Updated 3/6/2022:

Sea Quest has been totally free of COVID since the pandemic began. Here’s to a very healthy 2022 on the beautiful sea!

The content below is archived from 2021

We were granted permission to resume operating kayak tours by Washington State, the CDC, and the Federal Government on June 1, 2020. This permission has been continuous into 2022. Not a single guest or guide has reported any symptoms or a positive COVID test since the pandemic began. While we knew that clean sea air and warm weather would prevent transmission of viruses on our kayak tours, it was still gratifying that everyone stayed healthy. Open marine waters and sunny beaches are a naturally safe environment during a pandemic. By taking some simple health precautions, visiting San Juan Island in 2022 will be both fun and safe!

Sea Quest is Committed to Keeping Staff and Guests Healthy and Safe.

We will continue to follow all safety and best practice guidelines recommended by the government and health organizations. We want to ensure that our guests and staff feel safe when joining or leading any of our activities.

Sea kayak tours are an excellent choice of recreational activity during the pandemic for several reasons, starting with fresh air. Scientific studies have shown that viruses have difficulty spreading in the outdoors. Naturally, our beautiful island beaches are continuously cleansed by fresh sea breezes and will supply the sweetest and cleanest air you will have the pleasure of breathing all year!

The outdoor environment of our kayak trips also provides abundant ultra-violet light. UV rays destroy viruses and bacteria very effectively. And the reflective surfaces of the sea and beach amplifies this sterilizing effect. The summer months provide the highest levels of UV spectrum, and even on cloudy days they continue to do their cleansing work.

So while the sun warms your skin’s complexion into a healthy glow, its also killing all the nasty things that can cause illness! Here’s a little known survival tip: UV light is so effective at sterilizing water, you can use it as a life-saving method of purifying your drinking water. If you don’t have a filter or iodine, just fill up a clear container with contaminated water, place it in the sun for six hours, and then drink up!

Finally, sea kayaking lends itself well to physical distancing requirements, too. Even while sharing a tandem kayak you can maintain six feet of separation from your paddling partner. The only time we find keeping separated to be difficult is during the courtesy van ride to the beach. Depending on the beaches we use for your kayak tour, it can take between 5 and 25 minutes for transport. Our vans are cleaned between each tour and masks or facial coverings will provide excellent protection during these brief periods. We keep all the windows open during the drive to keep fresh air strongly circulating.

We do not believe that face masks will be required on our kayak trips in 2022. Washington state rescinded their mask mandate on March 21st. But it could get re-instated if the pandemic worsens again. Meanwhile, the CDC may not remove their mask mandate and they are still required in airplanes, airports, ferries, and terminals. Fortunately, mask rules only affect our kayak tours during the brief shuttle rides to/from the beach. Outside of the vans we can remove our masks. Be prepared with a proper mask when traveling this season so that you are prepared for changing rules.

Don’t hesitate to email us from our Contact page or call us at 360-378-5767. We are here to help you with your vacation planning in any way possible.

Your checklist was great and my husband was given complete and polite answers both times he phoned with additional questions. We were surprised at how stable our kayaks were as it was our first experience with this sport. We stayed perfectly dry too. Not only in the kayaks but also in our tent when it rained. The guide was outstanding…full of information about everything we saw, great sense of humor, articulate, and conscientious about everyone’s safety. This was the most fun and exciting experience our family remembers from any vacation. We’ve been raving to everyone about it. We plan to return on a longer sea kayaking trip next year! Our heartfelt thanks to you.
Judy Fessenden, Camarillo, CA

Covid-19 Faq: Questions About Our Sea Kayaking Tours During The Pandemic

Will I need to wear a mask or facial covering?

We were required to wear masks in our shuttle van during the past two seasons. But our local mask mandates in Washington state and San Juan County were terminated on March 21st. Just in case the mandate is imposed again, be sure to bring a quality mask so that it can be worn during brief drives to and from the beach. Please bring several masks/facial coverings during your travels so that you can quickly be in compliance if any rules suddenly change.

We are required to deny service to anyone that does not comply with any current mask law. No trip fees will be refunded if this occurs. Be sure to bring a good quality mask if facial coverings are required again in the future. Our guides will be following any new mask requirements and enforcing any new mask rules as required by law.

What will Sea Quest do for physical distancing on kayak tours

We have always operated with small groups and will continue to do so. If you do not want to participate with others, you can request a private trip, although there is additional cost for this.

Maintaining physical distancing will be easy as we operate on the sea and open beaches. The only time we must be close together is during courtesy van transportation to/from the launch site. You can opt to use a taxi at your own cost or have a friend drop you off. One of our launch beaches does not allow parking, so do not plan on self-driving and parking for the duration of your tour!

Our tandem kayak cockpits are perfectly designed so that both paddlers are 6 feet apart from each other.

While in our courtesy vans you may be required to wear a mask, depending on the most current regulations. You are responsible for providing this personal protection. Summer weather allows us to keep the windows wide open for full flow of fresh air!

What sanitary and disinfecting measures will Sea Quest be taking?

We strongly recommend bringing hand sanitizer for travels and that you carry it during your kayak tour. Our guides will carry their own and use it frequently.

In addition to regular cleaning practices already in place, we will disinfect our courtesy van after each group’s use. All kayaking equipment and personally worn gear will be cleaned and sanitized, too.

Camping kayak tours will have increased sanitation standards for cooking in the field on top of the strict protocols already in place.

What screening measures is Sea Quest taking?

Staff will be required to stay home if they exhibit symptoms or are known to have had close contact with a person who has COVID within a 14-day period.

We are required by law to deny service to any guest exhibiting coronavirus symptoms or are known to have had close contact with a person who has COVID within a 14-day period prior to the kayak tour.

If a staff member or guest develops symptoms during a tour, we will isolate and evaluate the situation for evacuation if possible.

What if I do not know my travel date, but want to support Sea Quest?

Gift cards are available for purchase online and do not expire. Please visit our website for details on purchasing gift cards. We appreciate your support.

What if I am experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, or come into contact with someone who may have COVID-19, before a tour or unable to travel due to restrictions in my state or county?

Please protect your vacation investment by purchasing travel insurance. We cannot insure your health or make exceptions to our refund policy. If a new government quarantine or economic shutdown is ordered for your trip date, we will reschedule your trip to a future date without a fee. However, dates for rescheduling may be complicated by space availability.

The typical low-cost travel insurance policy only provides coverage if you get ill and does not help travelers affected by pandemic travel restrictions. You may need to obtain a premium policy for full coverage during a pandemic. Before you purchase travel insurance, make sure you select a plan that provides coverage for pandemic restrictions or quarantine. Policies differ in details, even within the same insurance company, so find a policy that includes terms such as “Trip Cancellation for Any Reason”. Be sure the policy allows you to change the dates of insurance coverage if the pandemic forces you to re-book new kayak tour dates.

What information are you basing policies on and where are you finding it?

We use information from the Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization, and Department of Health to give us the most accurate information on Coronavirus and COVID-19.

The following are helpful links on COVID-19 for planning and considering your trip to Washington State

Still have questions? Click here to contact us!

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