secret places... exploration by sea kayak!

Today's forecast was for winds increasing from the South East, veering SW and reaching F8 by late afternoon / early evening... This was what our two students (already completed preliminary leadership and instructional training in their local club in Israel) had come to the Isle of Man to experience. Like all our clients; including visitors from the UK and further afield, they have grown to expect the high degree of customer service and professionalism Adventurous Experiences provide, and feel safe under the guidance of our competant local and experienced staff.

As the introductory day, we chose a sheltered location where we could complete a safe yet challenging trip, rock hopping along the way, keeping in close and using the coastline's natural rock obstacle course to practice edging and manoeuvering. Seals swam about us or slumbered in the intermittant caves, the screeching of Peregrine Falcons from their nest overhead, and still large numbers of Cormorants clustered on the steep angular rocks close by. Then it was time to head out and run with the wind, stopping at a well hidden cave to explore the caverns with Stalactites and waterfall, and have lunch:) Nice place for a few pics, before swimming the kayaks back out and testing some more skills. Off the water by early afternoon as the wind strengthened and gusts whipped the sea into a frenzy... Back to the lecture room and planning for tomorrow's paddle! Even with the less predictable and often changable weather, we continue to run safe, fun, learning (and unforgettable) adventurous experiences!
Our 5 - 6 day packages, using high quality local B&B's, giving an active, adventurous day combined with home cooking and luxury accommodation are proving very popular during the 'training season' (running September to May) when we book in many smaller groups and individuals, on beginner, improver, intermediate and advanced sea kayak courses, those who wish to really progress. Some find it more convenient to do this through an intensive block course, (such as the one described) and we cater for these as well as regular weekely sessions for those who live locally, and can only spare a few hours at a time!
We're just back in from the evening pool session at the Western Swimming Pool, Peel - where the weather was very mild :)
Kayak safety and rescue indoor pool courses begin monthly; alongside certificated Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning courses - skills necessary for the recreational kayaker and small craft user alike.

Corporate Training days and courses give unparalleled experiences to work groups, through shared experiences, building trust and long term working relationships, nurturing leadership and communication; increasingly effective at integrating new staff and solving issues within a existing team. Coasteering and Gorge Scrambling are especially popular in this field, and unless we get water on the lens... we generally get you some terrific pics of your day as well! Training days are designed using combinations of any of the adventures we offer - locating theory to practice, with the flexibility to make use of our facilitated modern lecture as much or as little as required...


All sorts of excitement over the past few weeks, with never a dull (or free) moment!

The first Finnish Sea Kayak Symposium took place at Hanko - weekend August 23/24, where I met so many fantastic, and down to earth people, including the 'celebrity' to the NIL festival visit by Johanna - one of the two Scandinavians students, who began at either end of the Blue Ribbon (combined Finnish and Swedish coastline) competing against each other to finish the 3600km paddle. A terrific event - I look forward to the next one...
Prior to this the combined new BCU 2* and 3* training and tests organised by Jukka Linnomaa - Sea Kayaking Finland, was great fun and local conditions were ideal for the purpose.
Thanks as always to the Linnonmaa's for their great hospitality.

Back on the Isle of Man, the Cancun Crew have two more dives left to complete our PADI Open Water Diver certificates, and there was enough dry and sunshine hours to fit in some delightful rock climbing at the chasms, cuminating in a traverse across the roof of Sugarloaf cave and then ascenting Sugarloaf Stack - twice :) A pod of dolphins feeding in bay beside us (looked like Atlantic White Sided) and a 'small' Basking Shark swimming past a few feet away as we completed the decent...

Congratulations to Gordin Warner completed his circumnavigation of the island in aid of cancer research, and many thanks for the bottle of single malt which appeared in my room :)
To top this, a big congratulations to the two Adventure Club members who progressed their eskimo rolls from the pool to the sea, and are now looking very solid. we're all really happy for you!!

Life on the Isle of Man is simply phenomenal!!