Kayaking how to Blog

Here is a nice checklist to go through of things to bring as you are getting ready to go kayaking:

1. Bilge pump or large sponge for any water that splashes in
2. Sunscreen
3. Drinking water
4. Proper footwear
5. UV eye protection
6. Dry bag
7. Paddler’s leash: To keep you from losing your paddle while on the water
8. A spare paddle
9. A whistle or sound-signaling device
10. Throw bags and other rescue gear
11. First Aid Kit

If you have ideas on what to add to this list, please comment.

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Consider this advice on things to do and things not to do when you are going kayaking:

• Always wear a properly fitted personal flotation device (life jacket) while on the water.
• Never go boating while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Do not stand up in a kayak.
• Learn about your route in advance, especially potential hazards, such as rapids, low-head dams, or dam releases.
• Never overload the kayak with more weight or persons than it is designed to safely accommodate.
• Let people know where you intend to put in, take out and where and when you expect to return. Give it to someone who will call for assistance if you don’t return.

Video of some of the top creeks to kayak in New Zealand.

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Alaska is a beautiful state that longs to be explored. With beautiful mountain scenery, breathtaking landscapes, and crystal clear lakes and streams, it’s no wonder that Alaska has become a top vacation spot in the United States. Alaska also provides the perfect opportunity to experience kayaking, particularly in the area of Seward. You are not likely to find a better place for kayaking anywhere in the world! Here you will find everything you only dreamed of seeing as you paddle through the calm and tranquil waters of Seward on your kayaking journey.

Lowell Point, located inside the magnificent Resurrection Bay, is a prime location in Seward for great kayaking. Here you will find abundant wildlife and aquatic animals along the shoreline of Caines Head State Recreation Area. You’re likely to spot bald eagles soaring overhead, sea lions perched atop the jagged rocks that peek up from under the water, and grizzly bears as they feast on the leaping salmon inhibiting the creeks and streams of Lowell Point.

Another common location for kayaking in Seward is Fox Island. Fox Island is said to be one of the best sea kayaking locations in the world, and for very good reason. Located about 14 miles from Seward, Fox Island is an area of natural beauty and wonder. This is an area you thought you would only see on the discovery channel! You’ll find long, sandy beaches that stretch for miles, an inhibited rainforest, and picture-perfect cliffs and coves along the shoreline. Fox Island is famous for catching glimpses of a whale, as the peek out from beneath the water to say hello to fellow kayakers. Falcons and puffins soar in the clear skies, setting the perfect scene for photography.

Kenai Fjords National Park provides the ultimate kayaking experience for those looking to view natural Alaskan glaciers or get in some whale watching. Whales are known to live just beneath the glaciers in the tranquil water, and often jump between the waves as if to put on a show for the kayakers. The surrounding glaciers provide the perfect pedestal for sea otters, sea lions, beavers, and other wildlife residing in the area. They never seem to be bothered by the passing kayaks, so be sure to snap a picture of these magnificent creatures while you have the chance. Kenai Fjords is the perfect location for a kayaking trip if you are only visiting Seward for a short time, as it can easily be explored by kayak in one day.

A simple search of the internet will provide you with a list of Seward kayak tour companies and their rates. The average cost of a one-day kayaking excursion through Seward is around $125. Most tours will include everything you need for your kayaking adventure, as well as lunch or dinner included in the price. Be sure to find a tour that will accommodate your level of physical ability. While most everyone of any skill level can participate in the kayaking tours, some of the waters of Seward tend to be rough and harder to paddle through. Keep this mind when choosing your tour and location.

In Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, you’ll find one of the best kayaking adventures available in the country. Known as Mothership Adventures, this guided kayak tour company goes above and beyond the normal kayak excursion, by providing its clients a comfortable journey out to sea aboard the “mothership”, vessel Columbia III. You’ll experience views of wildlife, breathtaking landscapes, and genuine welcome from the crew and staff. This is sure to be an unforgettable adventure for people of all ages!

Mothership Adventures offers three different kayaking excursions to choose from. The first of these is the Desolation Sound Tour. For this tour, you will depart from the beautiful Campbell River aboard the mothership and set sail for the quiet and tranquil Desolation Sound, known for its abundant marine life with different mammals and sea birds. Once you arrive, you’ll step off the mothership and into your tandem kayak, where you’ll paddle through the tiny passageways. This allows you to explore Desolation Sound without missing a single breathtaking view.

The second tour available through Mothership Adventures is The Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait Kayak Tour. The Broughton Archipelago is a quiet setting for the wildlife, and is often unaccessible to private kayakers. The mothership anchors itself in a tiny corner, allowing kayakers aboard to explore areas that would otherwise never be seen. You’ll set sail from Port McNeill and sail past the beautiful Coast Mountaints. This provides an excellent opportunity for some great photography! Broughton Archipelago is home to many aquatic and terrestial animals. You’ll spot harbor seals, otter, and occassionally a family of bald eagles nesting in the trees along the shoreline. You’ll also see white-sided dolphins frolicking in the gentle waves, and you may even spot a black bear as he fishes for his dinner!

The last tour is the Great Bear Rainforest Kayaking Tour, which is said to be the best sea kayaking available in Canada. This week long excursion allows kayakers to take in the beauty and immaculate wilderness of British Columbia’s wild central coast. This area provides kayakers with a closer glimpse of the abundant wildlife that inihibit the iselts between the Coast Mountaints. Sea and river otters are frequent attractions, as well as black bears and sea lions. Stop for a picnic lunch along the white sandy beaches, and board the mothership for your return home.

All of the Columbia III kayak adventures are usually a week long and are all-inclusive. Gourmet meals, snacks, private rooms, and all kayaking equipment are provided. Prices vary depending on the tour you select, but the typical price range is $1690 – $3528 per person. You do not need any prior experience in kayaking to participate in the tours, and you will receive a complete packing list prior to your arrival so you know exactly what to bring. However, space is extremely limited for each tour, so be sure to reserve your tour as soon as possible.

Simply put, kayaking the Big Island refers to kayaking adventures around Hawaii. While Hawaii is known for its white sandy beaches, emerald-green waters, active volcanoes, and tropical plants, it’s also the perfect location for kayaking. The Big Island provides opportunities for everyone to enjoy kayaking, regardless of your age or ability level. You can choose to paddle through either extreme or tranquil waters, both of which offer an amazing glimpse at some of Hawaii’s wildlife and beautiful scenery. The common places for kayaking around the Big Island are Kauai, Oahu, and Maui.

Kauai is sometimes referred to as “the emerald island,” and for very good reason. Not only is it one of the most beautiful Hawaiian islands, Kauai has some of the most stunning and active rainforests known to Hawaii. The waterfall terrain along the Na Pali coast provides excellent photography opportunities for those kayaking the Big Island. These waterfalls gently flow into the ocean and set the ultimate conditions for kayaking. Keep your eyes peeled for sights of Hawaiian wildlife along the coast, such as sea lions and other manatee. You may even want to consider snorkeling in this area of the Big Island, as you will find beautiful tropical fish swimming beneath the surface.

The island of Oahu is the most populated of the Big Island and serves as an ideal location for calm kayaking. Along the west coast of Oahu, you will find dolphin activity on a daily basis. Here, you will be given the chance to dock your kayak and swim with these amazing aquatic creatures. Also in this area is the infamous Pearl Harbor. Feel free to take pictures and video tape this historic battle site as you kayak around the Big Island. Oahu is also known on the Big Island as a great spot to scuba dive, so be sure to take advantage of all the opportunities Oahu has to offer.

Although the island of Maui is only forty-eight miles long, it is one of the most famous places of the Big Island. It’s often referred to “Valley Isle” because of the massive valley between its two volcanoes. The shoreline of Maui provides some great kayaking and is most popular for whale-watching. Kayaking in this area of the Big Island is sure to bring you up close and personal with the humpback whales that inhibit the Hawaiian Island. It is recommended to kayak in the early morning hours to see the whales, and it should be noted that the waters surrounding Maui are typically rough and not as easily navigable. Therefore, you should go on a guided tour to kayak this area of the Big Island to help ensure your safety.

The Big Island is full of kayak opportunities as well as scuba diving, snorkeling, cliff jumping, and many other thrilling water activities. If you ever plan to visit Hawaii, kayaking is your best bet to seeing all of the beauty and wonders of the Big Island.

Mexico is a country known for its tropical appeal and lush vegetation. Most people traveling to Mexico visit the popular cities of Cancun, Tijuana, and Cabo San Lucas. These places are distinguished for having miles of white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and genuine Mexican cuisine. But there’s another beautiful area of Mexico that’s a well-kept secret – Rosarito Beach. Located a short distance from the shores of Baja, California, Rosarito Beach provides an excellent opportunity to experience nature at its finest. This stretch of private paradise is famous for sights of the grey whale, and is most notable for great kayaking adventures.

If you take advantage of the kayaking opportunities available on Rosarito Beach, you’re sure to get up close and personal with the magnificent whales that inhibit the area. Rosarito Beach is located just south of the pacific coast of Baja, California, which is also known to be famous of spotting glimpses of the grey whale. You’re most likely to meet the whales during the winter months of December and January in Rosarito Beach. This is the time of year when whales make the journey from their home in the Arctic Ocean to take in the warmth of Rosarito Beach, and begin their mating and birthing season. Traveling by kayak along the waters of Rosarito Beach provides you the ultimate opportunity to take pictures, view the whales through binoculars, and simply take in the wonders of watching these amazing creatures you otherwise would never have the chance to see.

While you’re paddling through the waters of Rosarito Beach, be sure to try your hand at fishing. This would be very easy to accomplish if you plan to kayak through the waters. The waters of Rosarito Beach are known to have a wide variety of fish, and you’re likely to have the most luck just off the Coronado Islands. (These tiny, uninhibited islands are located northwest of the Rosarito Beach shoreline.) Even people who have never caught a fish before succeed around Coronado Islands!

Along with whales and fish, you are also likely to spot sea lions, manatee, and tropical birds along the shoreline of Rosarito Beach if you kayak during the warmer months. Not only will you have this once-in-a-lifetime chance to see some amazing wildlife, but you’ll also be given the opportunity to experience great photography.

Most kayaking and whale watching tours in Rosarito Beach are daytime excursions, but there are some tours that offer camping as part of an overnight addition to the tour. If you choose an overnight tour, you will set up camp along the sandy beaches of the tiny surrounding islands of Rosarito Beach. What better way to view a tropical sunset? Although most kayaking tours in Rosarito Beach are not physically challenging, you will need to be in average physical shape to participate. The waters in this area can be a bit wavy or rough at times due to the inhibiting whales, but can still be paddled through by the average person.

The chance to vacation in Hawaii is a rare opportunity for some people. Nearly everyone daydreams about feeling the sand between their toes while sipping on a pina-colada. So, if given the chance to visit Hawaii, it’s not likely one would pass it up. With miles of sandy-white beaches and emerald-green waters, it’s a place enjoyed by people of all ages. But unlike the other 49 states of America, Hawaii isn’t just one solid mass of land that can be explored through driving; it’s a chain of islands that represent the entire state. Therefore, there’s no better way to check out this amazing land of paradise than by kayak!

There are wonderful opportunities for kayaking on nearly every island of Hawaii. No matter what part of the state you plan to visit, a kayaking adventure is available at every corner. If you are planning to be in Kauai, this is a prime location for some of the best Hawaiian kayaking adventures. You can explore the waters around Hanalei Bay and have a chance to see some breathtaking Hawaiian wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for the sight of bottle-nose dolphins and a beautiful assortment of aquatic birds. Kauai is also known for its many small rivers and streams that flow into the tropical rainforest, so take advantage of the opportunity to see some exotic animals and plants first-hand.

The east coast of Oahu is also a great spot to experience kayaking. Oahu is known to be one of the most relaxing places for a smooth-sailing kayaking trip. This area offers some of the calmest and serene waters in Hawaii, giving you the chance to take in some sightseeing while enjoying your time in the sun. Because of the many, small islands that surround Oahu’s coast, you can stop for a picnic lunch during your kayaking adventure.

Maui is an island of Hawaii that offers several kayaking options and adventures. Maui is home to Honolulu Bay marine preserve, where you can experience some excellent snorkeling or scuba diving. The waters surrounding Maui are ideal for the beginning kayaker, as conditions are usually calm and easy to paddle. However, if you are an experienced kayaker and looking for a challenge, then explore the island of Molokai. Here, the waters are known to be a bit rougher and offer quite a physical challenge. Please be advised that this area should be reserved for only the experienced kayakers.

If you’ve never been kayaking before, the good news is that you don’t need any experience in order to enjoy a kayaking trip in Hawaii. Kayaking is a wonderful activity that’s ideal for people of all ages and skill level. If you book a guided tour, you will be taken to only the places with calm and quiet waters that require little physical exertion. In fact, kayaking in Hawaii is an activity that can be enjoyed by nearly every member of your family and is an excellent way to get in your sightseeing!

Just found this good writeup on one person’s experience using inflatable kayaks.  The person, Marlen Kemmet of Iowa, talks about using inflatable kayaks on the Salmon River in Idaho, the Arkansas river in CO, the upper Colorado river in CO, in Yellowstone Park, and many other places.

One good tip offered is “to determine what your course or “line” will be about 50 to 100 feet before hitting the whitewater, paddle hard before hitting the rapids, and go through the rapids head on. “  The reason for this is if you hit a wave too slow it may turn you sideways and flip.

Its an excellent article which can help you enjoy your inflatable kayak.  Here is a link to the article.

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One way to really get to know a person is by sharing a kayak.

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Here is a link to a couple of good photos of a guy kayaking with his dog.

What do you think the dog is thinking ?