While I understand there are inherent risks to kayaking and I did indeed sign the waiver and agree to it, the pictures and descriptions are misleading. You have to kayak from chincoteague to assateague and we did not go near the horses or see them which was the point of the adventure. We were never briefed otherwise. We were at the meet up point 15 minutes prior as asked, and were left without being contacted. The water was extremely choppy and difficult to navigate though both of us are in decent physical condition. I do not know how someone that is not young or extremely fit and active could navigate the waters we experienced. However, we received no safety briefing and were not asked about our age, physical conditions, kayaking experience, or briefed on water conditions for us to make our own personal assessment. I understand weather changes, but the water was rough and choppy before we entered. We did not make it back until it was 8:45pm and very dark while we were practically at a stand still fighting the current. Being on the bay/ocean in a kayak with choppy waters at night is not only frightening, it is irresponsible at best considering we did not know the conditions, and our guides did not know our capabilities. The guides did not have a flare, or a radio so in the event we tipped and were taken by the current, I am unsure of how we would have been found.
We asked several times if there was a spot we could bail out to avoid fighting the current up stream, across, and back down in the darkness, and just go straight across towards some condos, but it fell upon deaf ears.
Most families (notably those with younger or older people) would not be able to join this tour due to the nature of it.
This is certainly not to bash or tear down the company, solely to bring awareness and hopefully create some positive change.
Odpowiedź od gospodarza
Aug 2024
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We appreciate your honesty and want to address several of the points you raised.
First, we understand that kayaking can be a challenging activity, especially under certain weather conditions. Our team always aims to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for all participants. While the waiver acknowledges the inherent risks, we regret that you felt the pictures and descriptions did not accurately reflect your experience. We will certainly review our promotional materials to ensure they set the right expectations.
Regarding the issue of not seeing the horses on Assateague, we apologize for any disappointment this may have caused. The presence of wildlife can be unpredictable, and while we do our best to guide tours through areas where horses are commonly seen, sightings are not guaranteed. We will strive to communicate this more clearly to our guests moving forward.
We’re sorry to hear about the difficulties you encountered with the water conditions. Safety is our top priority, and our guides are trained to assess conditions and make the necessary calls.