Building Confidence, Connection & Skills on the Water

Blue Waters Kayaking Instructional Programs

At Blue Waters Kayaking, we’re dedicated to nurturing confident, safe, and respectful paddlers—whether you’re new to kayaking or refining advanced techniques. Our Sea Kayaking and Stand-Up Paddleboard (SUP) courses are designed to meet you where you are: from first strokes to advanced skills in open water.

We maintain small group sizes to ensure every participant receives the focused, personalized instruction they need to grow. All of our instructors are American Canoe Association (ACA) certified and Wilderness Medical trained—and most importantly, they’re passionate paddlers and thoughtful teachers.

Our progressive instruction track helps paddlers build confidence, safety awareness, and technical skill—whether you’re paddling for fun, exploration, or preparing to guide others.

Core Skills Class

Skills Class I: Intro to Sea Kayaking ~ $200

9:00 am–1:00 pm • See schedule
Perfect for those new to sea kayaking or looking to strengthen their foundation. We’ll begin with kayak orientation, gear overview, and basic paddling strokes—all while exploring the calm shorelines of Tomales Bay. We’ll also introduce tide logs, charts, and basic weather reading.

Skills Class II: Recoveries & Advanced Paddling Techniques ~ $250

9:00 am–1:00 pm • See schedule
Learn essential open-water recovery techniques, edging, bracing, and paddling in current. Held near the dynamic waters north of Hog Island, this class is fun, challenging, and confidence-boosting.
Pre-req: Basic kayak experience. Be ready to get wet and have fun.

Skills Class III: Tides & Currents ~ $200

9:00 am–3:00 pm • See schedule
This course introduces coastal navigation, towing, reading tides and currents, and rough-water recoveries. You’ll refine your stroke work and deepen your understanding of the forces that shape every paddle day.
Pre-req: Skills Class II or equivalent.

Skills Class IV: Surf Zone & Intro to Surf Kayaking ~ $200

9:00 am–3:00 pm • See schedule
This dynamic course prepares you to confidently paddle in and out of the surf zone. You’ll learn wave analysis, surf strategies, landing/launch techniques, and advanced bracing—all within a safe and supportive environment.
Pre-req: Skills Classes II & III.

Private Instruction (Kayak & SUP)

Whether you’re a beginner looking for one-on-one support or an experienced paddler refining expedition skills, we’ll design a course just for you. Choose from our skills classes or customize a session to fit your goals.

1 person: $390 for 3 hours ($130/hr thereafter)
2 people: $225/person (4-hour class)
3 people: $205/person (4-hour class)
4 people: $185/person (4-hour class)
5 people: $165/person (6-hour class)
6 people: $148/person (6-hour class)

Speciality Clinics

Roll Clinic ~ $390 (2 participants)

Master the ultimate self-rescue: the kayak roll. This 2-hour clinic builds technique, confidence, and safety for paddling in surf, rivers, and open water.
Pre-req: Skills I or equivalent.
Private instruction: $130/hour, 3-hour minimum

Navigation Clinic ~ $390 (2 participants)

Learn to chart safe, efficient open-water crossings using maps, compasses, and on-water techniques. Half land-based, half paddle-based, this course is ideal for coastal adventurers.
Pre-req: Sea Kayaking Basics or equivalent.
Private instruction: $130/hour, 3-hour minimum

The Fine Print

All classes are subject to minimum enrollment. Conditions such as extreme weather may require cancellations or rescheduling; we’ll communicate updates as early as possible. Surf Zone and coastal classes are confirmed by the lead instructor the morning of the session. Contact us if you have questions about conditions or class readiness.

Safety & Staff

All of our guides are professionally trained in outdoor education, wilderness medicine, and group facilitation—and many are also skilled naturalists, passionate about sharing the ecology, wildlife, and cultural history of the region. Our team is energetic, experienced, and committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

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