Guided Tours
There can be no better way of exploring St’Ives bay, than from the water – The Ocean Sports Centres guided tours are jammed packed micro adventures for individuals, small groups or families expertly guided by our highly skilled staff, deftly exploring secluded coves in the bay. Our guided tours start and finish at Carbis Bay beach, St’Ives and, are available in our Hawaiian Canoe, stand up paddle board or our fleet of single and double sit on kayaks.
Tours are available at regular times slots throughout the day and can be selected when you book online; if a tour or time slot is not available please call to book.
Our Centre number is: 01736 794782
Types of Guided Tours
Sea Life Explorer
Lasting an hour we stay within the headlands of Carbis Bay and is more an aquatic nature trail suited for everyone but best tailored to family groups and tiny tots. The super stable Hawaiian canoe is the craft of choice for this tour, providing a perfect platform to lean over the side and search for hidden treasures with tiny tots who can actually walk around in the canoe! Using our bathyscopes enables you to see clearly under water without even getting wet.
Because of the tour duration we have greater flexibility of running your tour at various times throughout the day (during quieter times) dependent upon conditions and availability. Please call to book this fun little adventure.
You can book right way by clicking the floating red button or find out a little more info about each craft by scrolling down.
Coastal Explorer
The Coastal Explorer lasts for approximately two hours which allows us to go beyond the point exploring the local coastline toward the bustling harbour of St. Ives taking in Bamaluz beach, Porthgwidden and even Porthmeor beach (dependent upon conditions). We often see Grey Seals, Mola Mola (Sunfish to you and me – check our YouTube channel out to see what they are) and it is not uncommon to see pods of Dolphin buzzing the local fishing boats off the ‘Island’. We have the option of using our Hawaiian Canoe’s, stand up paddle boards and our fleet of single and double sit on kayaks.
You can book right way by clicking the floating red button or find out a little more info about each craft by scrolling down.
Additional Info
Our guided tours run throughout the season at regular intervals during peak season (English School Summer holidays), bookings must be made in advance via the website but can also be booked over the phone, particularly if you have a few questions you would like answered. All of our instructors work closely with the RNLI and are beach lifeguard qualified, hold current instructor and or guiding qualifications recognised both by British Canoeing, the Academy of Surfing Instructors (SUP) and undergo rigorous, AALS (Adventurous Activities Licensing Service) endorsed, in-house training with our Internationally recognised Master Trainer, Glenn Eldridge.
Hawaiian Canoe
If you want flexibility to paddle all together or cover longer distances with greater ease then our Hawaiian Canoes are the go. Sat on seats above the water in an open decked canoe is ideal for families and groups and better suited to anyone where sitting in a kayak affects their back. With its additional outrigger arm this super stable craft is fantastic for the less gun hoe out on the water. Chances of getting wet; zero (unless you choose to ‘walk the Ama’).
Each canoe is booked individually, we can take a minimum of two people or up five in either one of our four or six person canoes
- Guide
- Paddle
- Changing facilities on the beach
- Wetsuits are not required for this craft – please make sure that you have a change of clothes just in case your partner splashes you!
We have two tour options for you; Sea Life Explorer (1hr within Carbis bay beach) and the Coastal Explorer (2hrs, beyond the bay!).
Stand Up Paddle Board
Stood up out on the water is not only a unique activity in itself that is sweeping the nation it provides a perspective not offered by many other paddle sports. Our SUP tours lightly touch upon paddling basics with a greater focus upon reaching a destination – we might not travel as far but the fun and flexibility of these craft more than make up for it. Chances of getting wet? Moderate to slightly high!
- Paddle Board
- Paddle
- Changing facilities on the beach
- Wetsuit
- Wetsuit boots (if required)
If travelling a distance is not your thing and would like a taster of what stand up paddle boarding is all about then signing up to one of our regular SUP taster lessons will be ideal for you. Click Here
Sit-On Kayak
Guided tours using kayaks is the Goldilocks of our tours – not too far and not too wet (just your bum), it’s just right! Our fleet of single and double Sit-On kayaks are a stable fast way of exploring the coast giving paddlers the freedom to zoom and out or rocky coves and points.
- Fully qualified guide
- Kayak
- Paddle
- Buoyancy Aid
- Changing facilities on the beach
- Wetsuit (if required)
Opening Times
Full Season:
Easter through to October Half Term
Peak Season:
English Summer School Holidays, Open 7 days a week
10-00am to 5-00pm (first hire is at 10 am and last hire 16:15pm)
Outside of Summer School Holidays:
(Inclusive of May Bank Holiday, Whitsun Half Term and the month June)
Open seven days 10am til 4pm, last hire 3pm, weather dependent
Shoulder Season:
(Easter Holidays through to May and End of September to October half term)
Please call to book
CONTACT US
Phone 1: 07533 695 031
Email: thebeach@oceansportscentre.co.uk