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About Us
Inspiring Adventures
Our Company
Our
Crew
Inspiring
Adventures Since 1993, Sea Kayak Adventures has created simply outstanding
sea kayaking trips and incredible wildlife encounters for outdoor-minded
travelers by offering not only fun and excitement, but also inspiring
adventures designed to rejuvenate your body and spirit. We're all about getting
away from everything, learning new things, observing wildlife, meeting great
people and introducing you to a new way of travel. So that you can experience
the dream vacation you deserve, we emphasize unparalleled customer service,
superb sea kayaking and whale watching destinations, and unbeatable support and
camaraderie from each of our SKA guides. We serve gourmet meals and provide all
the equipment needed.
"The trip went way
beyond my expectations. It was so great. Everything about it is a wonderful
memory - the nature is just spectacular, the guides were great fun and very
knowledgeable, the camping and kayaking equipment were superb and the food -
were we really on a camping trip?"
-- Vanja Dukic, Sea of Cortez
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Terry Prichard and Nancy Mertz
Prichard,
Sea Kayak Adventures Founders |
Our
Company
Sea Kayak Adventures,
Inc is actually three companies - we are fully licensed and permitted by the
Mexican and Canadian governments to operate in their waters. We maintain
offices in these countries, pay all the required fees and taxes; and we are
committed to the hiring, training and development of local personnel. Our
office in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA handles your reservations and takes care of
you before and after your trip.
In 1993 Terry Prichard
and Nancy Mertz, after working as sea kayak guides for many years in Baja and
the Pacific Northwest, created Sea Kayak Adventures. We wanted to share our
love of nature and exciting work with others in our own way. Meeting great
people, kayaking close to whales, sleeping under the stars. Being intimate with
nature. It's an incredible experience.
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Laurie started working
for us Nov 2005 and is an integral part of our team. She is the cheery person
who answers most of our incoming phone calls, and goes above and beyond to see
that every aspect of your pre-trip planning goes without a
hitch. |
We operate at all times
with environmental ethics in mind. We hire local guides as well as guides from
Canada and USA on each tour in Mexico and put as much money as we can into the
local economy of our destinations. We were the first company to design and
implement porta potties for double kayaks, which is now standard in the
industry in Loreto. We run mostly self-supported tours (ie no motorboat
support) thus rely on the greater carrying capacity of double kayaks. Some of
our tours are motorboat-supported - ie a motorboat goes along, usually going
ahead to camp each day with the camp gear, which can carry more amenities than
a self-supported trip. We have 1-2 single kayaks on each trip for guests to
rotate into (we do not guarantee exclusive use of single kayaks). Our guides
are eager to help you learn and develop your paddling skills.
"I especially liked the
special touches: voluminous instructions, directions & advice prior to the
trip, reservations for additional nights, new kayaking equipment, and
flexibility in kayaking itinerary and activities".
-- Pat Hollyday, Sea of
Cortez
Our Crew
"Our guides were truly
responsible for making this trip so exceptional. They were fun and adventurous
and their enthusiasm was irresistible. We could not have been in more competent
and assured hands".
-- Margery Ricards, Johnstone Strait
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Cesareo "Charo"
Castro
Charo grew up fishing and whale watching in Magdalena Bay. He
has been kayak guiding since 1997 and enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of
whales, birds and flora of Baja. He guides our sea kayaking expeditions in the
Sea of Cortez and is also our camp manager/naturalist in our Mag Bay Whale
Watching Camp. Charo is a graduate of the RARE program which is an eco-tourism
and guide training program for Mexicans. He also works for
Grupo
Tortuguero with sea turtle conservation. SKA guide since
2005. |
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Alex Magana
Ruiz
Alex, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, now lives in Loreto where
he has been a whale watching and sea kayak guide and logistics coordinator for
SKA. He personifies guest service and adds panache to our tours. He also
runs his own business selling day tours in Loreto and is a wonderful artist and
photographer. His website will be up soon. SKA since
2002 |
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Serina Bain
Serina hails from Vancouver Island BC Canada and would win the "most infectious
laugh" and "most energetic" awards. She is a patient teacher, as well as
confident capable trip leader, impressing folks of all ages with her knowledge
and enthusiasm about kayaking and the areas we visit. An integral part of our
team in both Mexico and BC Canada since 2006. |
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Lennie
Allison
Lennie, from Vancouver Island BC Canada, is always smiling. His
upbeat and "can do" attitude and sense of humor makes him a favorite leader
with our guests. Lennie has led kayak tours and kayaked extensively all over
Vancouver Island for many years, and can handle anything that comes his way.
SKA guide in Mexico since 2006. |
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Vladimir de la Toba
Valladolid
Vlady is our most promising up-and-coming young Mexican
guide, who already has his 3 Star British Canoe Union kayak rating. He grew up
fishing, boating and body surfing on Baja's Pacific coast, and knows the ocean
and the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California) intimately. In summers, he works for
Grupo Tortuguero, educating fishermen about not killing sea turtles and other
important species in their fishing bycatch. He is eager to practice his English
and show visitors the natural wildlife he loves. |
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Caleb Goodwin
Caleb, originally from Ontario Canada, graduated from university where
he got a degree in Natural Science and Outdoor Recreation, and went on to guide
sea kayak tours in Vancouver Island. He has taught and guided at Strathcona
Lodge, famous in Canada for its top notch environmental curriculum. SKA guide
in Mexico and Canada since 2007. |
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Sarah Hauser
Sarah, originally from Ontario, brings to SKA her boundless, good-natured
energy and years of experience instructing at the Canadian Outdoor Leadershop
Training Program. Started guiding for SKA in 2003 and has extensive knowledge
of the flora and fauna of British Columbia. |
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Heidi Porras
Heidi is a Marine Biologist from La Paz, Mexico. In 2001 she completed the NOLS
Sea Kayak Instructor Training Program and has been kayak guiding since. Heidi
is involved with marine protection and conservation groups in Mexico, and she
loves sharing her passion for the environment and knowledge of marine life. SKA
guide since 2005. |
Former SKA guide Hayley Shephard to be the first person to solo paddle around South Georgia Island to save albatross Jan 2009 - click on her name to find out how to save the albatross.
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