Our Kayak Guides

At Discovery Sea Kayaks, our guides are our most important asset for our success and your safety. They make your kayaking adventure safe, educational, informative, and enjoyable.

Jason Gunter

A true American adventurer, superb paddler, gourmet wilderness cook, research naturalist, wildlife photographer with many of his photos used in books and manuscripts, extensive outdoor experience including caving, mountaineering, whitewater and sea kayaking. Jason completed his BS in Biology from the University of Arkansas. He now lives full time on San Juan Island where he has been leading overnight kayak tours throughout the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands for many years.

"Leading multi-day trips is one of my favorite things about guiding, along with a chance to meet people and chat about the environment, wildlife, or great adventures"

First Aid and CPR certified, and BCU Three Star and Four Star trained. Jason also holds the BCU Canoe Safety Award. He enjoys demonstrating his paddling skills to his guests and can be persuaded to do his Eskimo roll for you.

Jason's motto

"A venturesome minority will always be eager to get off on their own, and no obstacle should be placed in their path; let them take risk, for God sake, let them get lost, sun burnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches-that is the right and privilege of any free American." --Edward Abbey-

Richard Swanson

Richard Swanson has over forty years experience exploring the San Juans by boat and kayak. When not traveling the world he resides at his home in Friday Harbor. He has traveled extensively by kayak throughout the San Juan Islands as well as the entire Pacific Northwest. Richard has combined his love of travel and kayaking, having paddled in Florida, Oregon,California, Hawaii, Australia and Indonesia but finds the San Juans the most beautiful area to kayak.

Richard is a Certified PADI SCUBA Instructor and spends his off season as a Dive Master and dive guide in the tropics. He holds the PADI Medic First Aid and CPR designation, American Red Cross First Aid and CPR as well as Wilderness First Aid. He is Three Star assessed and Four Star trained British Canoe Union Paddler with BCU Lifeguard award and is a certified Naturalist with the San Juan Island Whale Museum.

His experience on and in the water and past experience as teacher and swim coach will make your paddle with us safe, informative, enjoyable and educational.

Jesse Berube

Jesse has been an avid outdoor enthusiast since the early years of his life growing up on the east coast- His early accomplishments at the age of ten ranged from-the quickest time on the block free soloing the great Monkey Tree (the neighborhoods most climbed tree), to the only known ten year old to cross, solo, the great Millville Lake in a make shift log raft. Throughout his years of higher education in the state of Maine, he studied in the sciences and arts-having an affinity to naturalist work and photography. He simultaneously dove into rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking, and sea kayaking. The connection with nature through outdoor activities, has given him a profound interest in experiential education outdoors. He quickly took to guiding after found left astray in corporate America. In the late 90's Jesse found himself drawn to the San Juan Islands where his skills and interest in kayaking quickly grew. He's been since guiding in the San Juan, with brief breaks of guiding in Kenai Fjords of south central Alaska, guiding multiday treks in Guatemala highlands and pacific slope, and international travel. When Jesse's not guiding he owns and teaches guitar and drum accompaniment .

Kathleen Foley

Kathleen, a resident of San Juan Island, is a Washington native with over 30 years experience exploring the waterways of the Salish Sea by boat and, more recently, by sea kayak. Kathleen, who has earned a degree in Wildlife Science from the University of Washington, worked for a number of years as a wildlife rehabilitator before moving permanently to the San Juans. Her opportunity to work with wildlife "up-close" gives her a unique perspective on a variety of species' behavior and natural history. In addition to her passion for the natural environment (and for sea kayaking!), she enjoys participating in a wide variety of sports including freeheel skiing, alpine and rock climbing, backpacking, running and cycling. She is an avid birder and naturalist and is eager to share her knowledge with receptive clients. Be sure to bring your binoculars when paddling with Kathleen!

Kathleen is a Certified Naturalist with the Whale Museum in Friday Harbor.

Michelle Savoie

Michelle joined the DSK Team during the 2007 season. We were most delighted to bring her aboard. She brings with her a keen knowledge of the waters of the San Juan's with her prior experience as a kayak guide in the islands for 5 years. Michelle grew up in the Pacific Northwest in a small town in Oregon. She graduated from Pacific University in 2005 with a B.S. of Biology giving her all the tools needed to be a great Naturalist on kayak tours. She has the true adventurer spirt and enjoys not only her time at sea but spends some of her free time rock climbing, backpacking and devotes a majority of passion toward bicycle racing. Like many of the DSK team Michelle has spent a good amount of time traveling abroad. To name a few places: Russia, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and parts of Western Europe. In the summer months Michelle is an excellent cook and is always entertaining to have as a guide for multiday adventures.

Certifications: First Aid and CPR and she is currently working toward BCU 3* and Canoe Safety Award.

Sara Ennenga

Sara has made a long journey from her native Finland and during that adventure has become a queen of the wilderness. She was a mountaineer on Denali and a volunteer National Park Service Ranger where her responsibilities were mainly to assist in high altitude rescues. In her eight years in Alaska she was also a wilderness guide leading 12 day trips into the back country which included river rafting, hiking, kayaking, glacier trekking and climbing. Sara is an avid rock and ice climber, snow boarder, mountain biker, white river rafter, and sailor. She is a swimming, skiing and snow boarding instructor. She has extensive experience leading kayaking tours through the fjords and open coast of Alaska. Sara is a Medical EMT, wildfire firefighter and loves anything that includes adventure and the outdoors. She is by her own admission a hard-core outdoor enthusiast.

"The outdoors is my living room, the greatest sand box ever made"

Sara brings a wealth of knowledge, safety and experience with her when guiding tours