Sea Kayaking Offers the Best Views
More so than any other vessel, the sea kayak allows you to see the shore
and waterways from an angle that would otherwise be inaccessible. With a
minimal below-surface profile, the kayak can navigate past rocky shorelines.
The wide and sturdy base lets these man-powered crafts cut through waves.
And when you’re outfitted with a spray skirt (a flexible, waterproof cover that
keeps water from entering the kayak), you don’t have to worry about the chilly
waters splashing into your boat.
Exploring the islands by kayak gives you a true sense of their preserved
ruggedness, especially considering some of the small outcroppings remain
uninhabited. Speckled among the forest-lined shores you’ll find small sandy
beaches and spectacular bluffs. Tide pools teem with sea stars. Seals bob be-
tween the rocks. And large sea lions sun themselves near the water’s edge.
On clear days you can see Mount Baker rising to the east and the Olympic
Mountains to the south. Beneath the water’s surface, lush bull kelp forests
wave with the rhythm of the ocean’s currents.
A type of algae, bull kelp can reach up to 200 feet in length and weigh
upwards of 300 pounds. These underwater forests play an essential role in
the San Juan Islands’ marine food web — providing both shelter and food for
many of the region’s small herbivores. Orcas are also known to love swimming
through the suspended plants. It’s suspected they enjoy how the beds scratch
their back. As the kelp reaches the water’s surface, it creates a floating raft.
This can be a good place to “park” your kayak and take a rest, as the floating
beds provide protection from the ocean’s currents and waves. It’s also a good
place to spot wildlife. Sea otters and seals can frequently be seen wrapping
themselves in kelp while napping.
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explore: NW | The Official Magazine for kenmore air | Spring 2019
Sea Kayaking Tips:
Use Your Core
Always engage your core while
paddling to avoid tiring easily.
A good way to encourage
yourself to do so is with the
mantra, ‘In at your feet. Out at
your seat.’ You want to reach
forward with your whole upper
body and pull back with your
abs engaged to reduce the
stress placed on your shoul-
ders and arms.
Stay Centered
It can be tempting to look over
the side of your kayak at fish or
kelp. But the farther you lean,
the more your center of gravity
will shift. To avoid tipping, keep
your head centered on top of
your body in an upright posi-
tion to maintain your balance.