Searching for an outdoor adventure full of discovery? Set off on a kayak nature tour and explore the saltwater of Hilton Head Island as you row through the calm water of Broad Creek. Not only will you soak up sunshine and fresh sea air paddling alongside your tour guide, but you will also take in the rich history of the island. Forget a history lesson, this is a discovery of a place and its past.
Don’t worry if you are a first-time kayaker. Before your boat dips into the water, the certified tour guide will give a quick lesson to the group on paddling and kayak safety. Once you’re in, keep your eyes open for dolphins, manatees and river otters because they often swim near the surface, and you’ll be close enough to drop your hands in the water.
The guide will tell you about the delicate ecosystem and the importance of preserving its natural environment, such as the oyster beds. Mounds of rugged shells pile above the water, and are an important part of the marine ecosystem. Adult oysters improve the water quality by filtering up to 2.5 gallons of water per hour. The guide will shed light on the importance of recycled shells and tell you where you can find the nearest shell recycling center. Oysters build reefs that provide a natural environment for fish and other sea animals, and near the beds you will see native shore birds poking their beaks beneath the marsh for fish.
Feel free to meander near the banks to see the fiddler crabs scattering along the mud flats at low tide. You must be very still, or these dime-size crabs will vanish before your eyes. Before they do, you will spot one and then notice there must be hundreds waving their tiny claws at you. Take a quick look before they scurry into their holes at high speed and plug the openings with mud.
You will learn about the discovery of the island in 1663 by English captain William Hilton and how “Head” refers to the high bluffs, or headlands, he first saw when nearing the island. You will also learn electricity did not arrive in Hilton Head until 1951, and the telephone in 1960.
After navigating through the brackish water of the lagoons and inlets of the harbor and drenching yourself in the island’s history, you’ll come to the end of your tour. Let the breeze set you adrift beneath the sea oaks and ease your way back to the dock.
For more information about kayaking from Shelter Cove Marina, visit Outside Hilton Head.
