Practical, hands-on skills are the hallmark of a NOLS education. Be prepared to get wet! Photo: Julie Brown

Baja Sea Kayaking has it all—technical skills, incredible scenery, leadership practice, and unique opportunities for cultural exchanges. On this course you’ll travel along the coastline of the Sea of Cortez, where the Sonoran Desert meets the water, carrying everything you need for your journey inside the hull of your sea kayak.

Your instructors will teach you how to maneuver this craft onto remote beaches surrounded by cliffs and how to handle the boat when waves and winds begin to pick up. On land, you’ll practice cooking, Leave No Trace camping and beginning Spanish. As you move down the coast, you’ll see a land where cacti abound, as do dolphins and jumping manta rays.

Free diving is a special part of this course, and you’ll often spend afternoons exploring coastal reefs and the vast array of multi-colored fish that inhabit them. You may even have the opportunity to catch and prepare fish for your fellow students or to enjoy the catch of the day from local fisherman.

By the end of your expedition, you’ll walk away with the ability to lead your own sea kayaking adventure and an appreciation for this dramatic Mexican wilderness.

The following sea kayaking skills will be taught on this course:

Technical Paddling Skills

• Basic forward, reverse, sweep, draw and rudder strokes
• High, low and skulling braces
• Kayak leaning and edging
• Wet exits
• Capsize recoveries in singles and doubles
• Paddle signals
• Rough water launching and landing
• Use of towing systems
• Eskimo rolling
• Basics of kayak surfing

• Interpretation of tides and currents
• Ocean hazard assessment
• Weather assessment
• An understanding of wind and wave dynamics
• Coastal Navigation techniques, chart reading and compass use

General Expeditioning Skills

• Vessel outfitting, care and packing
• Route selection and expedition planning
• Vessel design and repair
• Use of signal devices, including flares and VHF radio

Baja Sea Kayaking 16 and Over Duration: 22 days Average Age: 23 Tuition: $3,105 Dates: Jan. 4-Jan. 25, 2008 March 5-March 26, 2008 Oct. 20-Nov. 10, 2008 College Credit: (Optional) 4 Semester Credit Hours 2 Hours Environmental Ethics 2 Hours Leadership Techniques Course start/end: Mulege, BCS, Mexico Equipment Deposit: $225 Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico Downloads: Course Description (pdf) Equipment List (pdf)

Baja Sea Kayaking 23 and Over Duration: 14 days Average Age: 35 Tuition: $2,990 Dates: Feb. 3-Feb. 16, 2008 College Credit: (Optional) 2 Semester Credit Hours 2 Hours Environmental Ethics Course start/end: Mulege, BCS, Mexico Equipment Deposit: $225 Fly in/out: Loreto, BCS, Mexico Downloads: Course Description (pdf) Equipment List (pdf) Reading List (pdf)

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