Two Perfect Days with Sea Kayak Academy

 If you ever want to see just how well a course can be run, how knowledge, adventure, and joy can be seamlessly combined, spend a couple of days on the Sea Kayak Award course with Sea Kayak Academy in Pembrokeshire. I did just that, and I left not only soaked (in the best way…in learning and experiences), but genuinely impressed.

The adventure began at New Holmus Farm (Sea Kayak Academy’s home), perched above the Pembrokeshire coast. Their dedicated camping field was the perfect base – waking up to beautiful views of the Pembrokeshire landscape, steaming coffee, and the sound of gulls overhead. But this isn’t just campfire-and-paddle stuff. Before we even touched the water, we gathered in the Academy’s purpose-built teaching cabin, where Amy, our instructor, walked us through the theory of tides, weather, trip planning and safety.

Let me tell you, this wasn’t dry PowerPoint territory. Amy has the rare knack of making technical information digestible, memorable, and immediately relevant. Within half an hour, I found myself really understanding swell forecasts and tidal flows, things I’d previously only nodded at vaguely while others talked tides.

Our first day on the water launched from Fishguard. Sea Kayak Academy take great care to explain their courses on their website to ensure they get the right people lined up with the right course. My fellow course member, Paul, and I could not have been better matched in terms of our experience and what we wanted from the course.

The pace was perfect: steady enough to absorb what we were learning, with regular pauses to try things out. Amy structured the day with subtlety, layering skill upon skill. We learnt how to read the coastline, assess risk in changing conditions, and sharpen our strokes to paddle more efficiently (and look less like flailing octopuses in the process).

By late afternoon, as we tucked into a rocky inlet and practised edging and control in moving water, it was clear: every part of the day had been designed to build both competence and confidence.

Finally, after a fabulous day on the water, back to the campsite for a hot meal and a well-earned beer. Now if, at this point, you’re worried about the classic kayaking/camping wet kit problem – don’t be. The Sea Kayak Academy has its own gear drying room, a small but magical addition that makes slipping into warm kit the next day feel like a minor miracle.

On Day Two, we once again started with some theory. But this time, we were encouraged to put what we had learned on day one into practice, planning our day according to the weather and sea conditions.

With the itinerary planned, we headed out from Porth Clais toward Caerfai Bay. If Day One was about technique and control, Day Two was about real-world application, with a side order of awe.

We paddled through sea caves, alongside towering cliffs, and into bays so clear you could see the hundreds of comb jellies shimmering below. Amy doesn’t just teach kayaking; she brings the entire environment to life. One moment she was explaining wave reflection against rock structures, the next she was pointing out huge spider crabs or identifying edible coastal plants.

It’s not often you get a kayak guide who can switch seamlessly from the physics of swell to the politics of puffin conservation. But this was no dry lecture. Everything was relevant, alive, and woven into our journey.

Throughout the two days, we practised a wide repertoire of strokes; stern rudders, draws, support strokes, low braces – and applied them in context. We navigated narrow gullies, broke through gentle surf, and worked around rock gardens. The emphasis was always on understanding, not just muscle memory.

We also got thoroughly wet – deliberately. Self-rescues, assisted rescues, re-entry rolls, you name it. Every scenario was demystified and drilled until it felt comfortably doable. These weren’t theoretical checkboxes; they were the kind of techniques which could save a life, or at the very least, turn panic into laughter when the inevitable capsize happens.

Sea Kayak Academy doesn’t do half measures when it comes to kit. We had access to a range of high-end kayaks (from the likes of P&H and Valley) and paddles from Segla Gear (Sea Kayak Academy is the sole UK distributor of these fantastic paddles, so save up your pocket money or put one on your Christmas list), with the chance to experiment with different designs and setups. It’s a gear nerd’s dream – but it’s also empowering. When you understand how a skeg or paddle shape changes your efficiency in different conditions, everything clicks.

I’ve done a fair few outdoor courses over the years, in kayaking, climbing, skiing and mountaineering. Many of them were excellent…but this was outstanding. Not just for the quality of the instruction or the stunning location, but for the ethos: thoughtful, thorough, and quietly professional throughout.

What makes this course different is that it doesn’t just teach you how to paddle, it teaches you how to think like a sea kayaker. How to plan, adapt, stay safe, and truly engage with your environment.

If you’re thinking of upping your sea kayaking game, stop thinking. Book a Sea Kayak Academy course right now. Whether you’re a weekend paddler or a budding expeditionist, these courses will sharpen your skills, deepen your knowledge, and leave you with a huge grin as you paddle back into harbour. For me…I am already eyeing up the Coastal Sea Kayak course for later in the year.