What we’re about
Paradise Coast Paddlers Club (PCPC) was founded in 2005.
Our club specializes in Sea Kayaking, Skills including Traditional Greenland, Education, Surf Ski and safety training. We also have an active group that loves kayak rolling. All levels are welcome who are interested in expanding, growing or developing their skills.
Our paddles are rated according to ACA levels 1-5 and other factors including distance, pace, planned stops, what kayak type is needed, if self-rescue skills are required and more.
We also offer monthly meetings and bring in informative speakers such as:
Different types of kayaks and their use. What’s the right kayak for you.
Calusa Indians
Water quality
Local water navigation
Kayak camping
We have a yearly festival where we offer instruction from local experts and other instructors from around the country. We partner with local shops, vendors, park service and more. We have fun day including an exhibition of paddle skills including a rolling show.
IMPORTANT
** PFD'S MUST BE WORN ALWAYS (properly)** This is not only for the paddler’s safety but for the entire group’s safety.
We have more paddles, education and social events coming soon. Stay tuned!
Our club has adopted ACA guidelines to help rate our paddles:
*** Please be aware conditions can always change quickly and unexpectedly.***
A properly fitted PFD must be worn on all paddles. Your safety is YOUR responsibility.
Level 1 Paddle:
Conditions: Flat water protected from wind and waves with little boat traffic, current less than .5 knots
Required gear: PFD, whistle, paddle, kayak.
Night paddle requirement: white light on board and accessible.
Level 2 Paddle:
Conditions: Calm, protected water, wind less than 10 knots, waves under 1’, current less than 1 knots
Required gear: PFD, whistle, paddle, kayak, bailer.
Night paddle requirement: white light on board and accessible.
Required skills: Self rescue
Level 3 Paddle:
Conditions: Potential exposure to wind and waves up to 2’, wind less than 15 knots, current under 2 knots
Required gear: PFD, whistle, paddle, kayak, bailer, spray skirt, paddle float, ( leader may suggest: tow line, radio, distress flag and flares if a certain distance off coast)
Night paddle requirement: white light on board and accessible.
Required skills: Self rescue
Level 4 Paddle:
Conditions: Open water, exposed to wind and waves up to 4’, wind between 15 - 20 knots, current under 4 knots
Required gear: PFD, whistle, paddle, spare paddle, kayak, bailer, spray skirt, paddle float, marine radio (leader may suggest: tow line, distress flag and flares if a certain distance off coast)
Required skills: Self rescue
Level 5 Paddle:
Conditions: Full exposure, Waves over 3’, current over 4 knots, Wind over 15 knots
*** Leader permission required to attend a level 5 paddle.***
Required gear: PFD, whistle, paddle, spare paddle, kayak, bailer, spray skirt, paddle float, marine radio (leader may suggest: tow line, distress flag and flares if a certain distance off coast)
Required skills: Self rescue
REMEMBER: RESPECT THE WATER - KNOW YOUR ABILITIES
PADDLE @ YOUR OWN RISK
BE SAFE HAVE FUN !
Karin Rush - President
Sheri Chase - Vice President
Carrie Strickland - Secretary
Chris Sanderson - Treasurer
Mike Devlin, Co-founder-President Emeritus
Jay Rose - Co-Treasurer
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Tom Long's ONE-WAY TRIP-Capri Firehouse to Shell Island Rd via White's River++++Capri Fire Station, Naples , FL
I've never done this route before as a one-way trip, but a strong breeze from the south with an incoming tide - that we don't want to fight on the way back - make this the ideal time to try it. It's a ONE WAY paddle (with vehicles to be staged in advance at Shell Island Rd, where we'll come out of the water. I'll give details about the shuttling at the end of the description.
Please read this entire description before joining the paddle. By joining this paddle, you acknowledge and agree that you are 100% responsible for your own safety and that any damage to your equipment or injury you sustain on this trip, including while in transit to or from the event, is not the responsibility of PCPC or the trip leader.
I've planned the route on Google Earth. If we paddle into all the exploratory nooks and crannies in the mangroves I've got in mind, we'll travel just under 10 miles when we reach the take-out point at Shell Island Road. There will be a LOT of mangrove trail paddling. Some of it, perhaps about two of the miles, will be on fairly narrow trails, but only a little will be in actual mangrove tunnels. I know some folks are scared of those because of the man-eating spiders, but there won't be much tunneling.
We will meet by 9 AM to unload and launch by 10 AM from the beach in front of the Capri Fire Station. You can pull into their parking lot (NOT in front of their driveway for fire trucks) and unload your boats. Don't use the helicopter pad for staging. In fact, it would be better to stage the boats close to the Capri Fish House, so that in case a helicopter lands while we're shuttling vehicles, the stay-behind person won't have to scramble to move boats away from the wind wash of the rotors. If your vehicle is not going to stay at the takeout location, then park it across the street from the firehouse, but do NOT let any part of your vehicle hang over the sidewalk, or the locals get upset (and quite nasty).
We will cross Johnson Bay and enter the maze of mangrove islands along the northern edge of Johnson Bay's eastern part, first entering what Google Maps labels the "Johnson Snapper Hole." (Really.) I have a LOT of exploratory routing through the maze of trails beyond the Snapper Hole, some of which I've never paddled. Eventually, we'll end up in the White's River, and exit that into Hall Bay (north of Johnson Bay) where there are three little islands that the club has called The Three Sisters for many years. From there we will make our way north into Henderson Creek and around the horn, into the little cove at the end of Shell Island Rd. You never know what wildlife we'll encounter, but dolphins are common in Johnson Bay, and we might see a manatee. Hopefully, we'll get plenty of views of birds and various fish and whale sharks and horse conchs.
I suggest everyone bring along a substantial snack, or lunch, because I don't think we'll make it to the takeout before 1:30. As always, if you don't have a Class III PFD, or an approved inflatable PFD, you can't paddle with my group. And you have to wear it properly the entire time we're on the water.
This paddle does not require a long boat, nor does it preclude a shorter boat. But if you are a paddler of a shorter boat, you need to be able to paddle it for 10 miles and keep up with everyone else in a longer kayak. This isn't the trip to find out for the first time that you can't keep up for 10 miles in a short boat. I would call this a Level 2 paddle, based upon distance. Hobie Mirage Drives are not appropriate for this trip, because we're launching at dead low tide and will have skinny water in many spots. You need to be paddling, not pedaling. Though we won't see a lot of tunnels, some of the open-roof trails are pretty narrow, so you need to know how to negotiate twisting, narrow trails.
We probably won't encounter mosquitoes or no-seeums, but it's always possible in mangroves, so bring repellant (I recommend repellant with 25% DEET as the active ingredient). Bring sunscreen and plenty of water (no alcohol, please) and all the food you'll want. I wouldn't mind having a steak, if you bring one.
Here's how we'll handle the shuttling: We will meet at the Capri Fire Station on Capri Blvd at 9 AM and stage our kayaks and equipment on the grass by the sea wall. We'll leave one person to watch over our boats while the rest of us drive our vehicles to 11 Shell Island Rd, Naples, where the rides will be waiting for us when we come out of the water at the end of the paddle. After figuring out which cars will be left at Shell, we will cram ourselves into as few vehicles as possible to go back to Capri. When the paddle ends, some of us will need to shuttle the paddlers whose vehicles are still at Capri, back there. If you are coming alone, but happen to have a double rack on your roof (or a trailer) then, after the trip, you could possibly take back a paddler who's car is at Capri along with their boat in your spare rack. I, for one, will be able to do that. We'll get it all worked out at the time.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to call or text me at 239.963.6162.
Tom Long
ACA Certified Instructor
Professional Kayak Ecotour Guide
