Sea Kayak Carolina
OWNER: Joe Campbell
STAFF, INSTRUCTORS & GUIDES:
Jeff | Ashley | Don | Stephanie | Steve
Sea Kayak Carolina is a paddling school.
Sea Kayak Carolina is a paddling outfitter and full-service kayak shop.
Sea Kayak Carolina leads tours for all kinds of paddlers through Charleston area waters.
Since the doors opened in 2008, Sea Kayak Carolina has been a “place for paddlers,” — a vibrant kayak shop, paddling school and touring company where local paddlers and visitors alike can join in a community of paddlers. Expert instruction, carefully selected gear and fun trip leaders all play a role in making Sea Kayak Carolina a destination for kayakers up and down the east coast.
Joe Campbell
A passion for paddling runs deep at Sea Kayak Carolina. Joe is just one of the many paddlers that SKC has encouraged to embrace that passion over the years. The philosophy to teach, encourage and share fun and adventure on the water has been with SKC since the beginning. We’re passionate about getting others into kayaks and out on the water!
Sea Kayak Carolina is the premier kayak shop in South Carolina.
We only stock kayaks and gear that we use and paddle to ensure you get only the best.
The instructional staff of Sea Kayak Carolina loves to work with paddlers of all levels. Our programs are open to all. We have expertise in teaching the basics to those who have never been in a kayak, nervous around water or non-swimmers. — in an introductory class, or a mellow tour around Oak Island at Folly Beach. We will challenge intermediate paddlers in our rescue classes and surf classes. We have the experience to help our students learn the finer points of boat control, strokes and maneuvers, and navigation. If it happens in a kayak, we can help!
Ashley Brown
Ashley Brown began her paddling career with Sea Kayak Carolina in 2010 and is now an accomplished ACA Coastal Kayak Open Water Level 5 Instructor. Ashley is a sponsored paddler representing both Celtic paddles and NDK kayaks. She is a high energy instructor for many area classes, including an official course at the College of Charleston!
Jeff Atkins
Jeff is a 25 year veteran Park Ranger with State and County Parks. He has led outdoor programs all over South Carolina and is frequently found teaching at symposiums across the Southeast. Jeff is an ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor, ACA Level 2 Essentials of S.U.P. Instructor, Wilderness First responder, Leave No Trace Master Educator, and a Coastal Master Naturalist for SC. Paddlesports is his passion and loves to spread the “infectious” recreation activity to others. He believes in having fun, learning, and helping others to expand their knowledge and skills. “There is nothing like the feeling of seeing a person smile because they just did something they didn’t think they could do.”
Stephanie Lee
Stephanie Lee is a fun-loving enthusiastic guide for team SKC. You’ll find her leading tours throughout the low country or catching surf on Isle of Palms and Breach Inlet, mixing it up with the local kite boarders.
Steve Bleezarde
Steve is an ACA Coastal Kayak Open Water Level 4 Instructor and our IT guru. He began his paddling career shortly after moving to James Island from the northeast in 2001. An outdoor enthusiast, he has served in leadership roles with the scouting program, the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society.
For the first few years, Steve’s joy in kayaking came simply from the outdoor experience — getting on the water, into the marshes, and closer to our area’s birds and other wildlife. in the past five years he has more actively pursued advanced paddling and instructor training, and he now enjoys ocean paddles and surfing. He has tremendous enthusiasm for paddling and sharing what he’s learned.
“I had an instructor’s perspective while I was learning…I was learning to teach at the same time I was learning to paddle,” he says. Keeping that in mind, and sharing his own learning experiences, Steve likes to help others develop their paddling skills and confidence. “It makes me a better teacher. I haven’t forgotten some of those challenges I faced along the way.”
More familiar faces around Sea Kayak Carolina…There are more to come!
Don White (aka “Dogfish”) is an ACA Coastal Kayak Open Water Level 4 Instructor. Don and wife Fern are passionate about teaching new skills, maneuvers, rescue & towing techniques.
Don says: “I’m a perfect example that you can teach an old DOGfish new tricks”!
Our History
Sea Kayak Carolina was founded in the spring of 2008.
Before Sea Kayak Carolina opened our doors, Charleston lacked a dedicated kayak outfitter and local paddlers regularly traveled as far as North Carolina and Georgia to test paddle and try out equipment. Once we were up and running we joined with a number of lowcountry businesses offering local paddling tours, we began offering unique how-to classes for beginners, open water instruction for enthusiasts, and advanced certification courses for aspiring instructors across the country and internationally. We are the premiere shop for all your on-water needs.
SKC: Instructors. Guides. Outfitters. And you — together a community of paddlers.