As my daughter and I introduced ourselves to some ten other budding kayakers on the crowded loading dock of the Corniche bay, I could not help but wonder, "Is my four year old really up for this type of excursion?" A quick scan and I noticed that the other children were all at least 10-years-old and it was clear that they all had some sort of previous kayaking experience. Steve Rhodes, expert kayaker and founder of Entalek, quickly reminded me that the spectrum of people "right" for paddling is as wide as the sea and as long as we were strong enough to paddle, we would be fine.
An eco-adventure
Steve founded Entalek in 2007 after 14 years of working as a science teacher in Doha. He grew up experiencing the joy of nature and believes that best way to learn about the environment is through personal experience. In Qatar most students either spend their time on computers or in malls but often don't have the chance to experience the magic and wonder of being outdoors. This is why Steve found Entalek Eco-Adventures. Entalek is an outdoor and environmental education eco-tour company that puts Qatar's natural and scenic locations at the heart of the kayaking tours.
"Qatar has a lot more to offer than shopping malls and indoor attractions. Kayaking in doha is a fun and active way to experience the beauty of nature and architecture on water. There are many physical and mental benefits to kayaking, as well as having fun for an hour or so. You receive a wonderful workout and you also get the calming psychological effect of being on the water," Rhodes says.
As we chose our lifejackets and identified the appropriate kayaks, Steve started the introduction and beginners training session. With the group circled around him, he showed us the correct paddling techniques. By this point my daughter was beaming with pride that she would get her own oar and be able join in. We pretended to paddle on the tarmac with what they call "crossing stroke", that is, learning the push and pull of a good paddle stroke. Then we stowed away our non-waterproof gear and enjoyed a quick refreshment before pulling out.
My daughter and I were given a double kayak, so as to leave more room for my daughter. However, your children's ages, sizes, physical abilities, paddling experience and other qualities will determine whether they can ride in a single or double kayak and as a paddler or duffer.
"Duffing", or riding in the boat's centre compartment, is a great beginning place for all young paddlers. Though duffers may not be helping to propel the boat, they can learn a lot about the feel of the boat in the water.
Dhows and views
Our tour started with paddling comfortably into and around the dhow harbour, which was surprisingly quiet. We would paddle alongside the motorised and more traditional boats, some accommodated with skippers and boat boys and others not. We even paddled through the larger ones, parked close together, dodging the ropes and buoys.
We then proceeded to go out of the bay into the open waters. We followed the rocks that outlined the marina which were peppered in scuttling crabs and lined with recreational fisherman dropping in their weekend lines. Our hellos were only returned by a few while most silently observed us with semi-frowning faces perhaps worried that we would disturb their catch.
Steve frequently stopped us so we could enjoy the scenery and learn about the history of the dhows, the fishing and pearling industries.
Snack stop
Kayaking is appetite-building work for a four year old. At this point my daughter had already eaten her first snack pack, consisting of an apple, mango, four dried crackers, pumpkin seeds and a muesli bar. In between munching on her second breakfast, she kept dipping her feet into the water and every now and then having a go at paddling. She was curious, asking lots of questions and wanting to know where we were going. There was plenty of room in the kayak to keep a few lunch boxes close by and I am very happy I did as I could see it was not going to take long before she delved into the cheese salad sandwiches. I also kept a water bottle close at hand and made a conscious effort for us both to drink enough.
After a group shot in front of the Museum of Islamic Art, we headed back to the harbour and with her feet up in the air lying back comfortably in her lifejacket, my daughter just simply closed her eyes for five minutes and enjoyed the sea breeze and birds occasionally flying by. When I explained that the tour was over and it was time to head home, she looked at me with a little disappointment in her voice and replied, "Ok, Mummy." As we paddled back with the group’s assistant head paddler—his true purpose being a back up for us in case we needed a tow— he took a few pictures of us with the iconic view of West Bay in the background.
This was an activity I would want every child in Doha to experience—not only because of the exercise in the fresh outdoors but also because of the opportunity to learn more about Qatar’s environment and culture.
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