Who We Are

Experience the Best with Fidalgo Paddlesports

Fidalgo Paddlesports is a family-owned sea kayak school based in beautiful Anacortes, Washington. Our mission is to deliver meaningful paddlesports instruction for all abilities through standards-based education, maritime awareness and impactful paddling experiences.

We believe strongly in standards-based education. Therefore, to deliver the highest quality instruction to all of our students, our employees are all ACA certified instructors.

We are founded on a philosophy of fun and dedicated to creating awesome paddlers, regardless of prior skill, training or ability.

Family Owned

Dedicated to sharing our passion with the community.

ACA Certified

Our instructors are ACA-certified.

Quality Courses

Top-tier lessons for students of all levels.

Jesse Janicula

Owner and Lead Instructor

I have more than 20 years of paddling and outdoor education experience. I have taught sea kayaking for companies such as the YMCA, REI Outdoor School and Outward Bound in addition too numerous outfitters from North Carolina, California and Washington State . My career has also led me to develop the interpersonal skills of youth-at-risk in the deserts in Utah, instructing outdoor science in California, working as a Divemaster in the Dominican Republic and as a rock climbing guide in the southwest. I have climbed Denali and Aconcagua and thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail.

I have lived a life in the outdoors instructing students in all types of disciplines and students of all backgrounds, yet my love is paddling and the wild places a kayak can take me. I have sea kayaked throughout Alaska, Canada, Oman and South America, Australia and Mexico.

I learned to paddle in western North Carolina on mountain creeks and rivers such as the Ocoee, Chattooga, Tallulah, New, Cheoah, Little Pigeon, Tellico and Green. Absolutely some of the best whitewater in the southeast! It wasn’t until much later in life that I began to foster my love for sea kayaking. I fell in love with the slowness and deliberateness, the camaraderie of paddling with others and the wilderness experiences a sea kayak opens. I am fortunate to live in such a vast expanse that is the Salish Sea with a lifetime of exploration and discoveries to be had.

Thank you for considering Fidalgo Paddlesports. I look forward to seeing you on the water.

Authenticity

  • B.A. Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education
  • ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor
  • ACA Level 3 Coastal Kayaking Instructor Trainer
  • ACA Level 2 Essentials of SUP Instructor
  • ACA Adaptive Paddling Instructor
  • ACA Advanced Communications Instructor
  • Wilderness First Responder and CPR
  • Leave No Trace Trainer
  • AIARE Level 1
  • PADI Divemaster
  • PADI Enriched Air Diver
  • PADI Underwater Navigation Specialty
  • PADI High Altitude Diver Specialty