I usually paddle a 17-foot sea kayak on my tours, as I am most comfortable in that type of craft. A good touring kayak is just sheer joy to paddle for longer journeys. Lately, I have been looking at my trailer full of sit-on-tops and designing some new tours for this upcoming season. Although now used mostly for kayak fishing, SOTs allow for a lot more diversity when it comes to kayaking, as they were originally designed for diving. The area behind the seat is called a tank well for a reason. It usually is big enough to carry a diving vest with a single tank. Stable, self-draining, and easy to enter and exit from the water, a SOT is the perfect craft to do a little diving or snorkeling.

So I went down to Gaspar’s Dive and Board at the San Casa Plaza in Englewood and spoke to my friend Ray. They are under new ownership, and have a wide selection of diving and snorkeling gear, and skateboards as well. After a great conversation full of information, I got all fired up to grab the SOT, snorkeling gear, an anchor and a dive flag and head on out to the Gulf for a little snorkel shelling adventure. Some of the nearshore sandbars off the coast are a great haven for shells, and the water is usually less than 10 feet deep.

Before you run out and get wet, there are some very important things you should understand about the waters of the Gulf. You should have kayak experience in the surf zone, and be confident in your ability to get back into your kayak. The waters coming ashore can be very powerful, and you need to be adept at handling the churning waters. I suggest paddling out past where the waves are breaking and drop a 3-pound grappling anchor. This will be necessary to hold the kayak in the rolling waves. You must also be familiar with the tides, and hit the beach when the tides are at their weakest. Research rip currents in the area, and know how to get out of them. Many beaches have no lifeguards on duty, so you are really on your own out there. If you are even the slightest bit unsure of your skills in the surf zone, take a refresher lesson or don’t go into the Gulf. Water can be a very powerful force.

Inshore snorkeling within the calm waters of the estuary can be great beginner practice. Just find a place outside of the Intracoastal Waterway and drop anchor. Don’t forget to set up a dive flag. It helps if you can go during a slack or outgoing tide, as the water is much less turbid and therefore clearer. I usually recommend having a friend along, as there is safety in numbers. Many times snorkeling just off some structure can be very rewarding — the fish species are often diverse. Be careful to stay out of anglers’ fishing lines, and keep 3 or 4 feet away from any pilings, as they are usually covered with crusty barnacles which can cause some nasty scrapes. With a little common sense and good planning, you can have some great new adventures in that old ‘yak in your garage. Until next time, just keep on ‘yakking …

Chris Warren is the owner/ operator of Phoenix Rising Kayak Tours in Rotonda West, serving all of the Charlotte Harbor area from Punta Gorda to Venice. To book a tour, contact him at 941-586-2836 or www.prkayak.com.