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!

Nice little spot at the end of the warf. Recently reopened after reconstruction from earlier…read morestorms. Limited bait and tackle. Nice boats and kayaks for rent. Decent selection of beers and snacks to enjoy at a nearby picnic table.

One of the best experiences of a lifetime go out in the boat. The staff is top of the line couldn't…read moreask for better people. I will be back.

Wow! My husband and I booked a wonderful sail with Nomad Sailing Charters. We saw whales, otters,…read morea seal and a great white! It is a beautiful, super sea worthy and comfortable sailboat. Sam was our captain and he was amazing. Everything was truly perfect. We felt safe, happy and well cared for. We are looking forward to another great sail!

We went on a sunset cruise in Santa Cruise for my birthday last week and had a wonderful time…read more Brian and his daughter were so helpful and friendly. This was the soooo fun !

Love it. Gone 3 times now and all were great…read more Looks like they no longer have the brunch sail which is too bad because that was my favorite, but both of the afternoon sails I've gone on too have been great. Staff are super nice. It's just gorgeous out there. Bring warm clothes! It's windy and sometimes you get wet!

Such an amazing experience! Came with a group of 8 people on a Sunday for a 1 pm tour. We all…read moreenjoyed it a lot: the weather was beautiful and the vessel looked very well kept. The crew itself was very knowledgeable and nice and the customer service was top notch: check in was easy and fast, we were given a lot of explanations about what the capital was doing and what is safe, the wine and beer was generously poured, and we were even given blankets as it was windy. separate thanks to the capital for letting a few of us hold the wheel. also saw an otter on the water and a seal chilling on the docks. we made amazing memories and will reccomend this place to others. will try to be back!

Professional and reliable...my boat is seems run faster and catch more fish after they clean it…read more Capt. Rick H-Dock Santa Cruz Harbor

We have owned several boats in various marinas over a sixty year period. For the last thirty or so,…read morewe have fished out of Santa Cruz while also keeping other boats up in Alameda and Discovery Bay. This gave us a good perspective on marine service personnel, mechanics, electricians and such. How refreshing it is to have someone like Steve taking care of our boats bottom, zincs and running gear. Dependable, reliable and thorough would be understatements. Cannot recommend California Commercial Divers highly enough.

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!

Kayak Connections in Santa Cruz was amazing. Reece and Anna were incredibly nice, helpful, and…read morewelcoming from start to finish. They explained everything clearly, were very informative about safety and the area, and made the whole rental process super easy and stress free. Their kindness and great attitude made the experience even better. I would definitely come back and highly recommend them!

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.