Everything you need to know!

Unlike our regional competitors, we do not solely hire college students looking for a fun summer job! Our model is more diverse. We have veteran guides who return year after year, many becoming Master Maine Guide’s. We have college professors, master naturalists, and others who serve as outstanding role models for our newer team members! This is in part because we not only pay the highest rates for our staff, but we believe in building the team first and foremost. We believe that a team who plays together, thrives together. We live in paradise afterall, and our staff do many awesome trips together each season such as rafting, hikes, etc. We’re a family.

Please note, despite clever advertising tactics of our competitors, we also have our own in-house guide training course in which we partner with the industry leaders, the experts in our field who’s love and commitment is unmatched!

Our guide staff is also trained and trusted to make the call to cancel their trips, financial pressures have no place in safe decision making, and as a Master Maine guide himself, Brad understands that sea kayaking on the ocean is a sport of respecting the elements. He encourages his team to speak up and share their concerns, understand their personal comfort level, and take ownership of their tour.

All of our tours are paced depending on the group as a whole. We take float breaks often and allow time for all guests to relax and take in the route. This is more of a leisurely trip than an adventurous race to the finish.

Absolutely! Our tours are good for beginners and our Registered Maine Guides will choose routes using the wind, weather, tides, and group dynamics to make for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. We paddle in Western Bay and Blue Hill Bay and try to go one-way if at all possible using Mother Nature to our advantage. This allows us to put the wind at your back, rather than returning to the dock against the wind, we opt to remain a mobile company to enhance guest experience.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t work for our one way trips so we do not allow it as we maintain flexibility on the water and may not be returning to where you parked. It’s not safe or ideal to to be locked into a round trip, if wind picked up in the wrong direction, our shuttle specialist would rather pick you up further down the coast and not leave you struggling. As the owner, I’ve worked for companies locked into round trips, and they had to be assisted back to shore by motorboat or fight heavy winds. It isn’t cheap being mobile, but it’s such a better experience not fighting winds or waiting for weather to pass.

We paddle in the rain, and mosts guests still have a great experience! We offer NRS quality splash tops to help with comfort.

We paddle rain or shine. Maine State Sea Kayak monitors the weather all day and is constantly checking for weather updates and reviewing the best available weather sites. Our tours will not be cancelled on a forecast. Our guides will make a decision about whether a tour will go or not based on current radar and latest predictions very close to the time of the tour as weather changes all the time. Think microclimates. We have found that the weather in town to be totally different than just a few miles away on the water. Things that the guides are looking for are excessive winds, thunder and lightning storms, or what looks to be a constant rain for the whole tour. If the guide decides to cancel the tour, we will try to reschedule you, if that is not possible there will be no cost to you because we cancelled the tour.

Our Southwest Harbor and Hadley point locations offer free on-site parking, and we can store your keys. At the Bar harbor shop we offer cubbies and lockers free of charge!

My name is Brad Jordan, and I am a year round resident of Mount Desert Island. I am a Mainer through and through, and this is my life’s dream! I studied environmental recreation and tourism management, and this was my internship! I was fortunate enough to work for the previous owner, who saw my passion and helped me purchase this organization.

Most outfitters will say all times are equal, and frankly that is somewhat true! But, we encourage guests to do their research on tides especially! While we see wildlife at all times as we paddle RESPECTFULLY through their habitat, certain tides allow different perspectives. We like to think of each tour as a chapter in a book, each being new and equally exciting. Low tide offers a unique look at the varying tidal zones, and our tides range from 8-12 ft. More seals can typically be seen “hauled out” on the rocks at low tide, but this means we will not get as close. At high tide, they occasionally are curious and approach closer! Birds are typically scouring the shores at low tide, and perched or flying at higher tide levels.

Really, it’s up to your group to decide what works best for you.

No! We live in paradise, and want to enjoy it too! If you want to modify/cancel your reservation you can do so by clicking the link in your confirmation email. We check the office phone for voicemails regularly and try to get back to all guests before 5pm daily.

For already reserved guests with more urgent questions/concerns-you can also text our number for reserved guests only which can be found near the link at the bottom of your confirmation email.

Aqua Safari Tours

Whether you meet us at our shop in Bar Harbor or Southwest Harbor we will be shuttling you to the far west side of the island to go paddling (known as the Quietside to the locals). We like to take you to remote spots where you will not see hotels, motels, restaurants, cruise ships or lots of boat traffic. We take out a maximum of 12 people and will provide all of the transportation for you.

Our tours are four hours because they include transportation and we feel that a 4 hour tour gives adequate time for relaxation, wildlife viewing, and interpretation from our professional Registered Maine Guide staff . We are on the water for 2 ½ to 3 hours and do stop to take a break on a beach or island for a short break where you can have a snack that you bring and stretch your legs. Our tours are good for beginners and our Registered Maine Guides will choose routes using the wind, weather, tides, and group dynamics to make for an enjoyable and relaxing experience. We paddle in Western Bay and Blue Hill Bay and try to go one-way if at all possible using Mother Nature to our advantage.  Occasionally we will do round trip tours if it is what the conditions warrant. All guests should expect to go in a tandem, though occasionally a guide may be able to offer a solo. This is a day of decision made by the guide. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!

Acadia Youth Kayaking

We do these tours at the north end of the island at Hadley Point Beach and they are perfect for families with children that are six years old and older. Up there we have a great opportunity to paddle by a natural shoreline, check out some small islands, and look for wildlife. The tours take out 12 people maximum and are 2 ½ hours in length with 2 to 2 ¼  hours on the water. We do not get out of our boats during the tour but do take float breaks along the way to talk about what we are seeing and have a drink of the water you bring with you to stay nice and hydrated. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!

Oyster Tours

This tour is a great opportunity to learn more about the aquaculture industry in Maine. You will start the tour at Hadley Point Beach and we have a maximum of 12 people paddle out to a barge to meet up with the owners of the Bar Harbor Oyster Company. There you will meet the owners who will talk about the industry and what they do and you will get a chance to try some fresh oysters while you are out there. It is about a 45 minute paddle out to the barge and you will spend about a half hour there and then you will paddle back to the beach. Please bring water, sunscreen, quick dry layers, and shoes you don’t mind getting wet!

Each Registered Maine Guide is legally allowed 12 guests per tour. Typically, this means 6 tandems.

We do not typically add an extra guide unless it is for a large private party, and in this instance, we typically operate out of the Hadley point region.

Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate late arrivals. All guest must arrive at the time stated in confirmation email! We understand the chaos of vacations, yet we have other guests to be mindful of, and our safety lesson is mandatory.

Please do not forfeit your payment by being tardy!

All of our availability is live in real time online, and 1 space left means for 1 individual, not 1 tandem. Please, do not tie up our phone lines asking if we can add a space!

You may join our waitlist under our “more” tab at the top of our webpage and if spaces become available, we will call you asap.

Yes! The kayaks we use are the Necky Looksha T’s. Their wide design and the fact that they have a rudder make them very stable. We primarily use tandem sea kayaks for their stability and convenience on the water!

If you are uncertain that you will be comfortable in one of our kayaks you can stop into the Bar Harbor office and try out our demo kayak! 48 hour cancellation applies.

• Please note, overall group safety and satisfaction is foremost! If your guide asks you to assist a different party, to enhance the safety/experience of others-Please do so. This is a collaborative effort.

All of our Aqua Safari tours can expect to take a break on a beach. This may be a short break so snacks, quick lunches are recommended! Your guide will provide you with a dry bag for safe packing.

Maine State Sea Kayak has an impressive record of finding wildlife. Bald eagles, osprey, cormorant, harbor seals, loons, gulls, terns, and harbor porpoise are the primary sightings on our kayak tours. Please bring a camera on your tour.

We are the only company paddling the west side, where most of the wildlife habitat is. Because of this we are the only ones willing to offer a Wildlife voucher for any of our “Aqua Safari” tours which do not see any of our “Top 3” Harbor Seal, Harbor Porpoise, or Bald Eagle. This voucher will be good for a complimentary tour during our upcoming season! (Given upon request of customer)

We do this because most guests choose us for our wildlife sightings, it our niche!

Paddling with Children (under 16 years of age):

• Child must be in a kayak with a responsible person from YOUR party at least 16+ years old
• Child must be at least 56″ for Aqua-Safari.
• Child must be at least 6 years old for Hadley Point Family Tour

**Maximum paddler weight is 250 lbs.**

If there is a question on whether or not someone is OK to go on a tour, please stop by our shop (39 cottage street Bar Harbor) in person.

Generally, 1-2 weeks prior to your Acadia vacation you should book online.

Water temps range from high 40s to high 50s through the summer season (June-Sept.). Yes, it is brisk. Air temps are 60s and 80s (daytime highs) and 50s and 60s (night).

We always recommend that you avoid cotton and opt for synthetic layers! Also, it is a good idea to bring along a windbreaker/rain jacket. Additional items: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, camera, binoculars, water/juice, snack, and please bring stable, wet water footwear. No flip flops!

Please see the parking link under our “More” tab!

Guide gratuities are always appreciated, though not expected! If you had a great experience, it is customary to tip 15%-20% of tour costs. You may do so upon reserving, with cash, or venmo.

Generally, no… However, under some circumstances we occasionally have the opportunity to make this possible so let’s chat!

As for Pfd’s, they need to be Coast Guard approved and in good condition. Your guide will check!

Researching Maine sea kayak tours and not sure who to go with? By keeping the following items in mind, it can help you find the right sea kayak outfitter for your tour:

Ask about the company safety record.
Ask about experience levels with Registered Maine Sea Kayak Guides.
Ask if the outfitter is insured.
Ask about the time length of sea kayak tours.
Ask about the maximum group size.