Our popular two day course is designed to give you the fundamental skills and necessary to start sea kayaking safely on protected waters. Our Instructor/Student ratio is 1:6, so you are assured of first class tuition and service.
The Sea Starter course is:
Children aged 7-14 years must paddle a double sea kayak with an adult. Older children may be suited to a single kayak, depending on the conditions in the weekend. Contact us to discuss.
Children under 7 years old - we request that you contact is to book Private Tuition for your family adventure
Day 1
Day 2
6 Reasons to Enrol
Feedback from hundreds of clients who have participated on the course has helped us design a sequentially orientated program that meets the expectations of our clients and delivers positive outcomes.
Courses are often described as challenging, exciting and heaps of fun! Experienced paddlers are often the ones that gain the most from refining and revising their current skills. Most importantly, inexperienced paddlers will leave with a completely new skill set that will launch them into one of the fastest growing sports in the world - Sea kayaking.
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Posted by Tom on 4th Apr 2017
My partner and I came down hoping to learn some new skills and we were thrilled to have more information thrown at us than we could have hoped for. Pete was a born kayak instructor - luckily he had more than enough patience for our clumsy paddling. He was passionate and therefore made us keen to keep at our kayaking.
Overall an excellent weekend.
Posted by Bernie on 9th Mar 2017
I learnt a lot about sea kayaking in this course , And that made me more confident out at sea highly recommended, Rohan,Pete and John all very good teachers thanks
Regards
Bernie
Posted by Andy and Linley on 6th Mar 2017
We had done a bit of flat water paddling, but were apprehensive about going in the sea. The team were very supportive and took us through the basics first. A bit of revision, but necessary to cover skills and fix a few bad habits as well as gain confidence. Learning assisted and self rescue techniques that were reasonably easy and worked was great. Gave us a lot of confidence. They also covered safety (of course), trip planning, weather, chart reading and more.
The second day was a trip out into the bay in conditions we would have never gone out in by ourselves. Nothing too horrendous, but it demonstrated what the kayaks, and us, could handle - even after only one day. Lots of fun.
Do it if you are new to paddling, do it if you have some experience - just do it.
The big recommendation is that we both came away wanting more and planning our next paddle and trips all over the place. Can't wait.
Posted by Erina on 13th Feb 2017
Wow. I was a 100% beginner, no previous experience and not planning any trips - just wanted to understand how it is possible to survive under the boat with legs inside and bum squeezed into the tight sit. It sounded a bit unrealistic so I wanted to experiment.
I had two fantastic two days and learned a lot. More than I expected. Theory was excellent. Rohan & Pete mad me to feel safe on water (and under). On second day we had a chance to enjoy some waives with 15-20 knots wind. That was really an eye opening and something new. I will highly recommend this course to everyone.
Posted by jane kilborn on 10th Feb 2017
Staff very approachable, have great teaching skills and are inspirational. I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and it was everything it was advertised to be. Ill be back!
Posted by Howard on 15th Nov 2016
Before kayaking everyone should do this course. Pete, Ro and all staff were great, informative, helpful and patient.
Good to meet the others in the course and enjoyed the fact that the course was very hands on ie on the water pretty quickly.
Thanks thoroughly recommended.
Posted by Lisa on 10th Nov 2016
We travelled down from Gippsland lakes to attend the sea starter course and it was well worth the journey! The instructors were friendly and helpful and had no issues giving our son the initial, on land, one-to-one instruction he needed to settle him into the course. Additionally, I felt the mix of instruction vs practical application was spot on! Resulting in a well organised and resourced program that was enjoyed by both our fourteen year old and our more seasoned selves.
The weather on our October course weekend presented us with strong offshore winds on the second day, however, the team had planned for the changed conditions and I really felt it did not detract from our overall enjoyment of the weekend. We had one very intense and fun filled day on the water, followed by a morning of instruction, inside the relaxed atmosphere of the cafe'.
Thank you EastCoast Kayaking for a wonderful weekend adventure! We look forward to returning this weekend with both children in tow!
Posted by Mark Stella on 19th Apr 2016
A mate and I enrolled for the April 16 - 17 2016 Sea Starter course for different reasons. My friend wanted to reacquaint himself with the finer skills of sea kayaking and I was a novice who whilst having done the earlier basic's course wanted to progress and acquire further knowledge and skills in kayaking. The two day course delivered on all counts with Rohan's ever enthusiastic commentary and sayings i.e "So team, what do think of this isn't it great ? etc etc and of course the classic East Coast Kayaking quote of, " its better to be hot and sticky than cold and emotional ! "
The format of the 2 day course was excellent starting with detailed discussions on clothing, safety equip.,weather interpretations, kayaking skills, communications, health, what to look for in kayaks types etc. We then went out on the water for practical sessions on self rescues, assisted rescues and then paddling skills "in the lee" of the Sandringham yatch clubs harbour and then venturing out into the bay a short distance beyond the breakwater to feel the sea beneath you and how it moves you and your kayak and how to begin to understand and react well to it al,l to make it fun and safe.
Day two was some more early morning theory on weather, currents etc and then into the kayaks for a paddle South out in the open bay with a good 10knot wind to Half Moon Bay and the Cerberus Beach House for a lunch and coffee. This was pretty thrilling I have to say, being at times over a kilometre out from the beach with the wind and the waves. Great learnings though. I was very satisfied when we reached the Beach House and the great care and instruction provided by Rohan and Peter our instructors.
Clearly these guys are at the top of their game in terms of knowledge and experience which they impart to us novice kayakers so well. The trip back up to East Coast Kayaking HQ at Sandringham wasn't so easy as the trip down, but again Rohan and Peter were there to offer advice and get us all home safe. After getting the kayaks and us all back safely we had a session on detailed trip planning and the intricacies of tides, map reading including beginning to understand what the funny symbols on maps really mean ! We also were given insight into the great longer trips and expeditions that East Coast Kayaking hosts not just in Victoria - such as across the bay Wilsons Prom. trip but others in Australia such as the trip up to the Whitsundays which sounds fantastic but others to NZ and Canada.
So thank you to East Coast Kayaking, Rohan and Peter and Raina in the office for your most capable tuition, your enthusiasm and your passion for all things Kayaking.
If you are really interested in learning how to safely start off in this great recreational sport and then progress further, then East Coast Kayaking is the first people you should call.
Mark Stella
Eltham
Sea Starter Course
Posted by Harry on 16th Feb 2016
The sea starter course was great. The guys really gave 110% and were eager to help with future trip planning as well. I learned a lot, and now I'm much more confident of my capabilities.
Posted by Paul Mensh on 25th Nov 2015
Coming into the advanced session almost six months after the basics my greatest fear was not being able to get back into the kayak after coming out ... either alone or with help. I came away having largely taken a bit bite out of that fear (will keep practicing) and gained an altogether new experience of more fluid paddling strokes and the power of third point (?) stability.
I found Rohan's calm coaching style and ability to convey the experience behind techniques fantastically helpful for my learning.
Also, holding steady in fairly large swells was both thrilling and confidence building.
I consider ECK an essential resource and intend to take advantage of future trips.
A big thanks Rohan!!!