I don’t know about you, but I’m a proper water baby. I love swimming and I go surfing whenever I can. I’ve also tried kayaking, but not on the sea. So in the spirit of open-mindedness I decided to find out what it’s all about.
Seth Dent, of St Mary’s Georgia, started kayaking in the Fall of 2004 and has since become a qualified instructor and guide: ‘I began reading books about kayaking and took classes at the East Coast Canoe & Kayak Festival.’
We asked Seth what it is he loves so much about the sport and he wasn’t short of reasons. ‘You can go anywhere in a kayak, places that powerboats and sailboats are not able to go: with the proper training, you can go wherever the sea will let you …you’re only limited by yourself.’
‘Kayaking creates interests in things that may not have been interesting to you before. Before I started, I had no desire to learn how to read nautical charts, tie a variety of knots, or put together meal plans for multi-day expeditions… Kayaking is good for you. It’s very good exercise that strengthens your core, but most importantly, it’s fun.’
We asked Seth for suggestions about the best places to go Kayaking and he suggested these amazing destinations:
‘The Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, the longest sea kayaking trail in the US, is one of the best paddling destinations on the East Coast. Since Florida’s coastline is distributed between the Atlantic Ocean & the Gulf of Mexico, the paddling opportunities are quite varied.’
‘Cumberland Island National Seashore is truly a gem of the Georgia coast. Cumberland Island is consistently rated as one of the best wilderness beaches in the US. The combination of salt marsh and ocean paddling makes it a fun place to camp and explore.’
‘The St. Johns River in Florida offers dozens of water-accessible campsites on public land that’s free to use. Most often when people think of sea kayaking, they think of paddling on the open ocean, but there are many inland waterways that can challenge even the most experienced sea kayakers. In December of 2008 I paddled the St. Johns from its headwaters to the Atlantic Ocean with my paddling partner, Keith Legette. Our expedition marked the first time that such a trip had ever been done!’
‘Washington’s San Juan Islands display the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest’s coast. State ferries provide transportation to several of them, but a sea kayak is the best way to experience these beautiful islands. With limitless opportunities for camping, the San Juan Islands should be on every paddler’s to-do list.’
‘There is no better place to sea kayak than its birthplace: Greenland. There are more reasons than I could possibly list, but suffice it to say that every paddler that makes the trip to Greenland returns home with a new appreciation for those that depend upon the kayak to live.’
‘The beauty of kayaking is that it only takes 5-10 minutes to learn the basics. When guiding trips I frequently encounter people that have never been in a kayak. After a short instructional orientation, beginning paddlers are ready to tackle calm, protected waters.’
‘I’m based in St. Marys and provide guided kayak trips and lessons to Cumberland Island National Seashore, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the St. Marys River and many more destinations. There are different trips for a range of skill levels that will satisfy even the most adventurous souls. I offer a Beginners Course, an Advanced Course and a Safety & Rescue course, each costing $60’.
You can contact Seth by emailing him here, or visit his website which is here.
Tags: boating, Georgia, river, sea kayaking, Seth Dent, St Mary's, water
