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!

Had a great time deep sea fishing on the 7 hour adventure leaving from Santa Cruz on Stagnaro's…read more Came with the scout troop and the staff helped for any snags, and the captain kept putting us on the fish. We all caught our limit, and really enjoyed the day. The staff also were able to clean and fillet our fish on the way back to shore to make it easier on us. Will definitely do it again.

Mind blown. No words. Amazing time with the most knowledgeable naturalists and a Captain who…read moreknows her stuff! Truly an experience I'll never forget.

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.

Caitlin was the nicest tour guide. She had us walking through nature and explained a lot about…read moremushroom hunting, and made the experience magic.

We went on the short hike adventure. This hike is perfect for someone who is a beginner who hasn't…read morethought about foraging in a forest before. We all learned something new. The guide was very nice and informative. Meeting at one location, then meeting at another 5 minutes away seemed like a time filler. I would recommend just giving a meeting location and starting on time at the location. People should be able to handle going pee and getting coffee on their own before a hike. Seriously, I would consider dropping that part of the tour. For the price I would have hoped for a location that was a little more remote or wooded. We walked 0.5 miles and could see the parking lot the whole time. A great addition would be to make a little helpful hints guide for all of the participants so they can look back and remember the tips. That would make the price seem more worth it.

I took my first lesson with Eskape Sea Kayaking (ESK) back in 1999. I was hooked and have been…read moreexpanding my kayaking skills ever since, mainly under the tutelage of the instructors of ESK. Roger, the owner, is not only a great teacher, he is an amazing coach. He keeps his class sizes small so that he can give each person individual attention. Both in receiving lessons and watching him teach others, it always impresses me how much Roger tunes into the nuances and needs of each person in the class. The staff ESK brings in to help with the classes always mirrors that style as well. Roger, Tom, Bryan, Gregg and the rest are some of the best paddlers on the West Coast. Whether you want to just learn the basics or go out and take on the big waves, this is the place to go.

What Yoda is to The Force, Roger Schumann is to kayaking. If your future kayaking plans involve…read moreanything more then calm fair-weather kayaking on a pond, Roger's instruction will be invaluable. Roger will taylor classes to your skill level and comfort. We spent four consecutive days with Roger and left far more competent and safe than when we arrived. The classes are reasonably priced and you could not ask for a more beautiful location. We saw Sea Otters, dolphins and birds beyond count. We could not have been happier!!! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g33048-r317079943-Santa_Cruz_California.html#

We planned to kayak in the Harbor today, and we were planning to go to the Sup Shack, where we had…read morerented kayaks last summer. Sup Shack was unexpectedly closed (hours and webpage said they were open, the number listed didn't connect, and there was no note). The Hostess at Crow's Nest recommended Kayak Connection! It turned out to be a phenomenal experience! Milan (sp?) talked us through everything, made sure we all had well-fitted life vests, and the office recognized my step-daughter's 16th birthday with a free Santa Cruz sticker. It's true that the construction impedes the experience to an extent- Milan had to call the foreman to have us escorted through, but they did so promptly ensuring minimal disruption of our experience. We got assistance boarding, and we were especially impressed with Milan's patience with my step-daughter, who has Down Syndrome and needed some extra help. He was super patient and kind! We really appreciated that, unlike with Sup Shack, we were given "free rein" during our hour outing, except for needing to follow common sense safety rules. As soon as we were done, we called the number on the kayak paddles, and Milan was down in a jiffy to assist us back. We saw a seal, quite a few crab, many birds, and friendly boaters. We felt the price of $65 for an hour per double kayak (including life vests, paddles, the kayak, and assistance) was a very fair value. Highly recommend this exceptional and reliable business for your next outing!

Good vibes and Great times are found and had here!…read more This was Amazing! what a fun, rad trip we had!! Every person we encountered related to this business was friendly, kind, and professional. We were pulled in by Marcy and her bubbly positive energy on the telephone and followed up with the pleasure of having Suzy as our guide. Suzy was fantastic! Super warm personality and full of knowledge relating to kayaking, local sea-life, birding, and history! Our experience couldn't have been better; literally a ! ...(there is even legend a leopard shark was spotted near the bridge toward the end of our journey). Facts: we saw well over 100 sea otters and about as many harbor seals! ...and Bird-Nerds (no judgement here - I'm in the club) will not be disappointed!! We will return with our son and his gf. **Highly recommended**

What an Experience! The Captain and crew were amazing. They had us seeing whales in no time, and…read moreseveral breaches occurred and to see huge whales leaping out of the ocean was simply incredible. I would do it again!!

We've also done this tour several times, and never a disappointment! The ship is lovely and…read morecomfortable and the crew are amazing!! I love that they take the time to allow everyone to enjoy these experiences. It was fun, it was awe inspiring, it was a wonderful morning! Thank you so much!!

My cousin and my thoroughly enjoyed our tour. The boat was comfortable and very quiet, and we were…read moreable to see lots of wildlife including otters, seals, pelicans, and more.

This was an amazing experience. Our tour guide, Sean, was very kind and accomodating and…read moreknowledgeable. There was all kinds of wildlife to see the whole time, and hearing about local history and industry from Sean was very fun and fascinating. Definitely worth checking out!