Testimonials
We had a great time kayaking with Discovery, the staff and guides were amazing. We saw the most wonderful views and eagles, seals, and orcas. Everything was done safely and respectively. Thanks Discovery!
— Jennifer
Our Guides
Your safety is our #1 priority. In addition to First Aid and CPR, our guides have, at the minimum, kayak skills training by the British Canoe Union (BCU) and American Canoe Association. The BCU and ACA are internationally recognized systems of training and assessment for the kayak industry. Our guides are kayakers and outdoors people first, with years of experience on the waters of San Juan Islands. In addition to rigorous in house safety training our guides, are also sent to numerous outside sea kayak and kayaking rescue skills courses. Discovery Sea Kayak guides not only paddle in the protected waters of the San Juan Islands but train in the winter season along the open coast of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. This experience gives our guides one of the highest standards of sea kayaking and kayak safety skills in the San Juan Islands. Your safety and comfort is the most important part of your kayak adventure with us.
Our Kayak Guides, Biologist/Naturalist
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.
Richard Swanson
Usually the voice on the phone when you call and the face that greets you when you arrive at our shop. Richard Swanson has over forty years experience exploring the San Juan’s 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 Juan’s 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.
Jason Gunter
(7th Season with Discovery Sea Kayaks)
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-
Shawn Widing
(2nd Season with Discovery Sea Kayaks)
Originally from Ohio, Shawn moved to Pittsburgh where he graduated from Slippery Rock University. After collegeShawn attended the NOLS sea kayaking course. Through the experience he learned various skills that would help him become a competent leader on the water. Moving to Bellingham Washington, Shawn started his search for employment as a guide. Shawn became a member of the Discovery Sea Kayak Team and has excelled in training to become one of our strongest leaders.
Jesse Berube
(6th Season with Discovery Sea Kayaks)
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 .
Katie Liebenstein
(1st Season with Discovery Sea Kayaks)
Katie recently joined Discovery Sea Kayaks in May of 2010. Hailing from Oregon, Katie has spent many years exploring the Northwest in her kayak, on her skis, and with a backpack. She spent the 2009 season guiding teenagers on 5-day kayaking trips in the San Juan Islands. She is excited to be back in the islands this summer as a full-time guide for Discovery. In addition to kayak guiding, she has lead hiking, nordic skiing, and Yoga trips for the College Outdoors Program at Lewis and Clark College, where she recently graduated with a BA in History. Katie is excited to share her passion and knowledge about the San Juan Islands and is looking forward to a long and busy season this summer.
Kyle Miller
(3rd Season with Discovery Sea Kayaks)
Kyle joined the Discovery Sea Kayak team as an intern a few years ago. He impressed staff so much he was set as a lead guide to run Day and Sunset Tours. Kyle returned the following season to lead all the various kayak tours we offer. He is a very skill kayaker providing a safe environment for his clients. Kyle spends his winters in Portland Oregon attending Lewis and Clark College where he also leads trips for the College Outdoor Program. His sense for adventure and high level of enthusiasm he brings to each tour adds to the experience.
Certifications: Wilderness First Responder and CPR and he is currently working toward BCU 3* and holds a Canoe Safety Award.
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 rehabilitation before moving permanently to the San Juan’s. 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 free heel 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.
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