It was the Inuit of the northern climes, in Alaska, Greenland and Canada, who first covered a driftwood skeleton with animal skins to create the lithe kayak. It was an important tool in their survival, dependent as they were on the sea.
While its method of construction has undergone some changes, the form of the kayak has remained basically the same as the high-tech built craft enjoyed by Geoff Hunt, an expert kayaking guide and instructor. But while the evolution of the water skimming boat has been fairly straightforward, this guide’s journey to the sea has been quite a bit less direct.
Far from any significant body of water, growing up in the mountain village of Pine in Arizona, Hunt didn’t even realize that Japan is an island. His first question, when he was called by DoDDs in the mid ‘90’s about a teaching job there, was, “Does it have an ocean?”
His interest in the deep began as a fourth-grader back in the White Mountains when he used his hard earned allowance to buy a subscription to Scuba Diver magazine. The periodical stoked his daydreams of diving, fishing and exploring exotic locations.
Still it took two years after making the move to mainland Japan before the kayaking fever struck. “… I knew from the very first moment that I loved it,” he says.
Visiting Okinawa on his honeymoon with new bride, Kaoru, Hunt was “totally dazzled by the emerald blue,” of the sea. He quickly applied for a transfer and considers himself lucky to have gotten it.
He spent the next couple of years mapping routes and currents off of Okinawa and the surrounding islands. He is a stickler for safety, emphasizing it to his clients. As he exclaimed, “I frequently meet people on the water who don’t have their PFD (Personal Flotation Device) on – what good is that? – or don’t even have the minimum of safety gear!”
It is that cautious attitude that assures anyone hiring Geoff as their guide or instructor that an outing on the sea will be a pleasurable experience.
For the $50.00 a day fee he supplies the kayak, skirting, and other necessary gear. The client is responsible for their own lunch and proper clothing.
Kayaking may be addicting. As Hunt puts it, “Paddling isn’t just a hobby, it’s a way of life.”
His eyes come alive as he describes experiences he has had, such as exploring the Izu peninsula on the mainland, which is full of lava tubes that created caves, tunnels, inlets and deep wall refractions. Or the time a large manta ray flew overhead, startling the group he was guiding.
Okinawan waters present unique challenges as there are not as many nor as large protected areas as the mainland. Because of that, Hunt has researched a variety of routes, planning entries and exits, noting escape areas. In his wanderings he has discovered the best spots for snorkeling and day hiking. He gives credit and thanks to Eric Eckman, a fellow kayaker and dive instructor at Kadena Marina for helping him in the process.
The business, which is called Devil’s Cove Kayakers, now boasts a flotilla that includes eight kayaks, of which six are single seaters, one for two people and one for three.
He says, “I can take up to eight people out to see some of the most beautiful areas of Okinawa.”
His final thoughts and words of advice sum up his approach. “If conditions are at the edge of your ability, stay on the beach. There is always a better day. Practice safe kayaking, plan your trip, be prepared, be aware of your impact on the environment. Respect wildlife, and be considerate of others – you never know when you might need to lend a hand to someone, or need to reach out your hand for help.”
Geoff Hunt can be reached at 090-8723-6985.
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