Blue Waters Kayaking — Local services in Fairfax

Reflections from Guide Training at Blue Waters Kayaking

I’ve spent years in and around water—teaching, guiding, founding water sports programs across the world—but nothing quite compares to the experience I had during Blue Waters Kayaking’s recent guide training at Heart’s Desire Beach.

Even with all my background, I’ll admit I felt a flutter of nerves heading into the capsize training. But the level of professionalism, care, and empathy from the trainers quickly dissolved that fear. They guided us through each moment with such skill and support that I left feeling not only more confident but deeply connected to the group. It was a rare kind of camaraderie—one that comes from challenge, trust, and shared respect for the water.

And the wildlife! From the rustle of birds along the shore to the gentle pulse of the Bay itself, it was like paddling through poetry. What struck me most was the Blue Waters team’s deep sensitivity to the environment—teaching and modeling “Leave No Trace” principles with sincerity and heart. They remind us that the best kind of adventurer leaves only kindness in their wake.

I’m excited to keep growing on this path. My...

We (3 adults) did the Drake’s Estero Half Day tour with Jeff and Kari in mid-October and had a fantastic experience. We got very lucky and had great conditions: overcast but not cold and no wind. The water was completely still and we could easily see into it, so we were able to see leopard sharks and a moon snail. These conditions also made for easy paddling.

Though we were experienced kayakers, most of the people in our group had little to no experience. Hence, Jeff and Kari were very thorough at the beginning; they demonstrated basic paddling techniques and positions and made sure everyone’s gear and kayak were setup correctly. During the tour, they managed the group well, helping out as needed and including a short break on a shore so people could stretch their legs and relieve themselves. Jeff was very knowledgeable and shared lots of interesting information about the history of the area and local flora and fauna.

Both tandem and single kayaks were available. They also provided waterproof jackets, kayak spray skirts, and dry bags. Bring your own...

Sadly, I can’t review the actual kayaks or tours, but I can enthusiastically recommend the customer service.

I and my partner had signed up for a guided kayaking tour. As the date approached, I noticed that the weather looked bad, and worried that Blue Waters would wait until the last minute to decide whether to cancel.

Instead, they made the proactive decision to cancel almost 48 hours in advance, and reached out to both of us by phone and email to inform us. They offered options - a more protected route the same day, the same route a different day, or a refund. This proactiveness and flexibility allowed my partner and I to make the best choice for us and come up with alternate plans for our day. I couldn’t have asked for a better response to a difficult situation. We were very thankful to Blue Waters for putting both safety and customer choice first. We hope we can experience the kayaking as well...