Course Descriptions

1. Kachemak Bay Sea School - Learn and practice the whole array of skills needed to become a safe open-water sea paddler. during this 4-day full-immersion program. Day 1 - Intro to Sea Kayaking (11 July), Day 2 - Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills (12 July), Intermediate-Advanced Sea Kayaking Skills (13 July), and Advanced Sea Kayaking Skills (14 July).  This full immersion course will allow you to develop a full array of skills through repeated practice in increasingly challenging conditions. These are all the skills needed to become a useful member for a sea paddling group in up to moderate conditions: force 4 winds and seas (11-16 knots and 2-4' waves and surf) and tidal stream current up to 3 knots. See below.
Dates: 1-3, and 22-24 August
Fee: $375
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]

2. Introduction to Sea Kayaking - Practice the basics in a day of games, drills, races and skill building.  Safe carrying and lifting, launching and landing, balance, propulsion, stopping, turning, steering, prevent a capsize, safe capsize and rescue, hypothermia and clothing, group awareness, kayak & paddle design and function and more.  All paddling gear provided. Novice to intermediate paddlers.  Pre-requisites: None. Can be taken as a primer for attending "Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills" on 12 July.
Dates: 1, 22 August
Fee: $100
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]

3. Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills - Develop precise and efficient sea kayak paddling and rescue skills, and increase your safety awareness.  Efficient use of the torso and lower body to maneuver the kayak, essential gear, paddling in wind and waves, design and function of kayaks, paddles and clothing, simple navigation, towing and much more. All paddling gear provided. Beginner to intermediate paddlers. Pre-requisites: previous sea kayaking experience, "Intro to Sea Kayaking" (see above), or permission of instructors.
Dates: 2, 23 August
Fee: $100
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]

4. Intermediate-Advanced Sea Kayaking Skills - Develop open water paddling skills, including: strokes, maneuvers, rescues, group awareness, towing, and essential equipment. Paddling in wind, waves, surf and current, tides and currents, chart and compass and much more. All paddling gear provided. Beginner to intermediate paddlers. Pre-requisites: previous sea kayaking experience, "Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills" (see above), or permission of instructors.
Dates: 3, 24 August
Fee: $100/$150*
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]
* Includes water taxi.

5.  Paddling Skills Workshops - Sea, whitewater, surf Kayaking, Open Canoeing and Rescue skills. Spend a day developing your paddling skills in the craft of your choice: sea kayak, whitewater kayak, open canoe, surf kayaking, safety and rescue, British Canoe Union kayak skills training and assessments, and more.  Not confident in your sea kayak rescue skills? Spend a day paddling and practicing with expert coaching.

These flexible programs focus on fun, safety, and coaching for independence while covering: canoe and kayak loading & transportation, trip planning, safe lifting & carrying, equipment design and function, hypothermia & clothing, launching and landing, balance, strokes & maneuvers, safety & rescue, group dynamics, trip planning, and more. Take advantage of these "flexible" courses to increase your awareness and skills - just pick your craft! These are great sessions for developing and honing skills or to schedule British Canoe Union assessments.  All equipment provided.
Dates: 4, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 19, 27, 28, 29 August
Where: Homer
Fee: $100 full day / $65 half-day/$150 full day/$110 half-day) w/ water taxi
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]

6. Across the Bay Adventures.  Water taxi across Kachemak Bay and spend the day honing your sea kayaking skills while exploring one of several destinations on one of our local day-trip paddling adventures. 1) explore Gull Island and Petersen Bay/China-Poot Bays, 2) Ride the Tide - Glacier Spit-Halibut Cove Lagoon, 3) Sadie Cove Tour, 4) Eldred Passage Exploration, and many others. Pre-requisites: None.
Dates: 6, 12, 20, 21, 25, 26 August
Where: south side of Kachemak Bay
Fee: $150*
Registration: Call 235-2090 or email [email protected]
* Includes water taxi.

7. Passage Canal Sea School: beginner-intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills - Whittier.  Develop open water paddling skills during this 2 day course in beautiful PassageCanal.  First day devoted to general boat control, safety, clothing, rescues, and group awareness. Put it all together on a day trip on the second day. Trip planning, safe carrying, launching and landing, clothing and essential gear, effective strokes and maneuvers, safety equipment and procedures, rescues, towing, ocean play, navigation, and more.  Pre-requisites: previous sea kayaking experience and confident wet exit desirable, but not essential. Beginners to Advanced.
Dates: 9, 10 August (Sat., Sun.)
Where: Alaska Sea Kayakers, Passage Canal, Whittier
Fee: $235
Registration: Call or email AKS 235-2090, [email protected] or
Alaska Sea Kayakers 877-472-2534, www.alaskaseakayakers.com

8.  Beginner-Intermediate Sea Kayaking Skills - Otter Cove Resort, Tutka Bay. Water taxi across Kachemak Bay to stunning Otter Cove Resort. Spend a long weekend developing the full repertoire of skills you'll need to paddle sea kayaks safely in placid to moderate conditions as a member of a group. Trip planning, safe carrying, launching and landing, clothing and essential gear, effective strokes and maneuvers, safety equipment and procedures, rescues, towing, ocean play, navigation, and more. Includes water taxi, 3 dinners, 2 lunches, 3 breakfasts, lodging in 4-person cabins, and all kayaking instruction and equipment (including dry suit). Expect first evening orientation, all-day session on second day, and morning, afternoon, and evening sessions on Sunday. You bring personal clothing and sleeping bag. Pre-requisites: previous sea kayaking experience and confident wet exit desirable, but not essential.
Dates: 6-9 August (Fri.-Mon.), and 30 August - 2 September (Sat.-Tue.)
Fee: $385
Registration: Homer Ocean Charters, www.homerocean.com, (800) 426-6212,
or Alaska Kayak School, [email protected]