I've rented SUP boards from here several times and always had a good experience. Trudie is helpful…read moreand friendly, making sure I get the right kind of board and advising me on the conditions. I would just say I haven't tried the lessons or kayak rentals from SUP Shack so I can't comment on those.

Had a great paddle around the SC harbor with a friend this morning. Trudy the owner is great lady,…read moresuper friendly, and even opened a little early for us. We were also happy to help a local business, particularly with the Murray St bridge closure. Afterward, we had coffee at Java Junction. A great June morning!

SO MUCH FUN! I am a…read morebig guy and was scared out of my mind BUT the nice little lady...Natalie I think...was very helpful and calmed all my fears. She showed me pro techniques that helped me in the calm water and the baby surf that was out there. I was doing hand stands by the end of the day! We got out early, it was calm and a little foggy but then the fog burned off and it was amazing! So peaceful. We got to see dolphins, sea lions and an otter with its baby! And schools of fish under your board...pretty cool! Can't wait to take my 9 year old out there! Thanks again!

1st. Class Service. This is a paddle surf shop. and I am a longboard surfer. I needed a special…read more"Waist Leash". Olivier Guincetre the owner said not problem. He took the time to show me how to take apart my ankle leash and install the waist leash and even gave me the little allen wrench.

If I could give six stars for my experience with Covewater and Olivier, I would…read more I am a novice, just getting into wing and SUP foiling and fortunately found Covewater through online research. Based on what I found online, I could tell that Olivier had all the gear that I was interested in, including a foil drive. During my first call to the shop, Olivier spent about 20 or 30 minutes with me on the phone talking about my previous water goals and what type of equipment might suit me best. And after we finished our first call, I felt confident that making the trip down to Santa Cruz from San Francisco would be a worth my time, and I was right! I made an appointment with Olivier to get to the shop early in the morning, which he was happy to commit to. He arrived on time, and we spent the next hour or two looking at gear and talking about different options. Once we decided on the gear that would be best and most fun, Olivier took his own time to set up my equipment and show me how to use it all, so that it was ready to go. In addition, he closed the shop early to take me out on the water for my first experience just to get me acclimated to the gear and give me a basic tutorial. Wow, the extra care was so helpful and so appreciated. We spent about an hour and a half in the water, and I was up on my feet and foiling by the end of the lesson. Like I said, if I could give six stars, I would. I highly recommend Covewater and Olivier to anybody who needs intimate knowledge of foiling equipment, and top-notch advice.

I just want to say what an amazing experience I had with purchasing my Starboard paddle board from…read moreCovewater Paddle Surf. Olivier was extraordinarily helpful in finding me a board and working on getting it delivered to the East coast. He carefully wrapped the board and it arrived here in perfect shape. I am now on my board almost everyday and I am in heaven every time I step on this board..aka Stella Bella Starboard. I would recommend Covewater Paddle surf to everyone and a special thanks to Olivier!!

Wonderful, safe and beautiful day on the water with our knowledgeable and kind kayaking tour guide…read more We learned so much and enjoyed an unforgettable experience we will always remember.

Our group paid for 3 hours of kayaking. The man in the booth was great in providing us wet pants,…read morewet jackets, wet shoes, otter information, etc. He was so kind and approachable. They also had pouches to store our phones in. If you kayak around the wharf, you can hear the sea lions. We unfortunately capsized but it was a memorable experience.

Absolutely phenomenal ASA 101 experience with Pacific Sail!…read more I had the pleasure of learning from Dylan and Darrel, and I couldn't have asked for a better team. Both instructors took the time to thoroughly cover the material--balancing hands-on learning with classroom-style instruction (Darrel even led lessons right in the hull of the boat!). We practiced tacking, jibing, tied a variety of useful knots, and learned all the parts of the boat in a way that was both fun and deeply informative. Even during wild weather (30+ knot gusts that caused racers to retire their boats!) and a brief engine hiccup, the experience was safe, empowering, and invaluable. I learned not just the textbook approach to handling situations like a man overboard, but also real-world knowledge--like how to troubleshoot engine issues (thanks, Dylan!) and who to call in a marine emergency (thanks, Darrel!). Dylan's patience and steady encouragement made sailing feel approachable, even when conditions were intense. Darrel brought humor, depth, and thoughtfulness to every moment--together, they're a truly outstanding teaching duo. I also had the chance to meet Kate, another instructor, who was all smiles and incredibly helpful, waving while passing up on her tow boat and then cracking jokes to Darrel when she prepared for her Chardonnay crew to take off. On land, Natalie and Ethan from the front desk were warm and welcoming. Natalie and Ethan even walked me over to the boat with my coffee in hand to make sure I didn't get lost. I left this course genuinely feeling like I have a solid foundation in sailing--both in skill and confidence. I highly recommend Pacific Sail to anyone looking to start their sailing journey. This team is the real deal!

Just finished my asa 103 lessons. Dylan is a really great captain! He's very encouraging and…read morepatient for my tons of weird questions. There is nothing he doesn't know he even knows the best fresh restaurant in Santa Cruz! You should all try his lessons and start to love sailing in the blue ocean with beautiful creatures!

Just did the bioluminescence paddle at Elkhorn Slough with my two teens, and we absolutely loved…read moreit! The entire experience was magical -- from the stunning sunset to spotting harbor seals and multiple pods of sea otters (some even mating!), and of course, the glowing bioluminescence. We even got a great photo of a sea slug! We learned so much about each animal we encountered and enjoyed personal stories and insights Kim shared. I woke up this morning eager to check their calendar of events because I can't wait to do more tours with BWV.

I went to Baja for 10 days with Kim Powell of Blue Water Ventures last month. It was an absolutely…read morefabulous trip with every detail and all logistics taken care. We camped on a remote beach on an island in the Sea of Cortez where we snorkeled, and also in Magdalena bay for whale watching. Kim is an amazing naturalistic with an infectious sense of joy in everything the natural world holds, from a teeny jelly to a gigantic Grey whale. You can't help but be caught up in her sense of wonder, having fun but also learning along the way. I only knew one person when the trip started, but ended up with 12 new friends. Highly recommend!

By the end of summer, my granddaughter who is here for 2 months, has not only learnt her strokes…read morebut is practicing diving and flip turns. Says swimming was the best experience this summer. When she started she wasn't comfortable swimming at the deep end. This is after a year or more of swim school in SF. Your instructors know how to engage the kids and win their trust. Keep it up!

Highly recommended for SCUBA! My wife and I hadn't gone diving in six years, so we decided to do a…read morerefresher course--and I'm so glad we chose Kent as our instructor. From the very start, Kent put us both at ease: he's kind, patient, and has a talent for teaching that really shows. My wife was a bit nervous about getting back in the water, but Kent tailored our refresher to meet her comfort level and our needs, making the entire experience relaxed and positive. By day Kent is a successful electrical engineer. He teaches SCUBA out of pure passion. That enthusiasm definitely shines through in his instruction. The gear we used was in great condition, and overall, everything was exactly what you'd expect (or hope for) in a well run dive operation. If you're looking to brush up on your skills, learn from scratch, or just have an excellent day of diving, I can't recommend Kent highly enough. This was the perfect combination of fun, safety, and quality instruction. Thank you for a wonderful experience, Kent!

Absolutely love this swim center! The staff are all wonderful and my daughter looks forward to…read moreevery lesson! As a "retired" swim instructor and swimmer I definitely give this place 5 stars!

Our girls have been taking swimming lessons with Shyra and her family for a few summers. This…read moresummer our girls tried the Harry Potter camp and they are fortunate for all they get to experience in the summers and they keep raving about the Harry Potter camp. Very grateful Shyra and the family are part of our community.