May is my favorite time of the year to paddle. It’s the quiet transition season where wildlife flourishes, the summer community is coming out, and the days get longer. Here is a rundown of why I like paddling in May and some safety considerations for paddling in May.

Highlights:

1. Crystal clear water —-> in May and early June I find the water is exceptionally clear. This could be due to the combo of less algae in the water with colder temperatures and less human pollution with fewer boats out and about. These could be some of many reasons. When I am away from the mudflats I find that the clarity is beautiful and enhanced this time of the year. Paddlers get to see beautiful sandbars, rocky areas, and much of what the ocean has to offer. 

Taken May 24, 2024

2. Peace and Quiet —–> I would start by saying that Deer Isle as a whole is not a noisy area, yet May can be exceptionally quiet and peaceful. It is the shoulder season for many industries. Many fishermen are still prepping gear on land, leaving quiet harbors. Fewer tourists means the islands tend to be very quiet.  At times I will go all day without seeing any other paddlers. May is a great time for peace and quiet on the water.

3. Wildlife —–> This is the biggest highlight. May tends to be a good month for wildlife. It is spring, and wildlife is coming out to get ready for a long summer around now. May is Bird-mating season. Eagles and Ospreys are common sights and we get to see the new season’s bald eagle fledglings. They are dependent on their parents until about the end of June when we are finally brave enough to fly.  It’s a treat to see them develop.  Many of the shore birds are also out and about in May. We even get less common birds stopping by on their way to Nova Scotia for the summer, check out this article to learn more about migratory birds!. May is also right in the middle of Seal pup season. Seals are quite abundant and tend to be less fearful as most motor boats are not on the water. Please take care to view seals from a distance, especially when they are resting on rocks. It is important that we let wildlife flourish on its own and respect their habitats, especially at this time of the year. Here is a link on etiquette in regards to Seals during pup season. This goes along with respecting bird habitats and other wildlife habitats

Birds in Webb Cove

Safety considerations for early season paddling: 

May and early June are beautiful and quiet, yet it does come with some risk management considerations. Here are some important aspects to think about if you are looking to go paddling during the early season.

1. The water is still very COLD! The water in May is in the 40s. A common mistake for outdoor adventurers is planning only for the air temperature. Just splashing from paddling can make you cold quickly. Capsizing in this water can be dangerous. Windbreaker and wool layers are always important this time of the year. Wetsuits and drysuits would be the ideal option. If you are venturing into the archipelago or for multi-hour trips a wet-suit or a drysuit is a must this time of the year. The good news is that we have a good number of wetsuits for our customers to wear.

2. Wind and weather changes: May can be a windy month. It is important to check the wind speeds and have a good understanding of how wind affects water and how wind will affect your journey. Weather can also be inconsistent in May. There will be days of 60s/70s and sunny. Then it quickly drops to 40-50 degrees. Carefully understanding and watching the weather with paddle trips is a necessity year round. In May, we are even more vigilant. We check weather reports multiple times a day.

3. Less people=less support. As there are less people in the archipelago and on the water as a whole this time of the year. This means if you are on your own and end up in an undesirable scenario there are fewer people in the area to help out. Of course if you book a tour you will be with a licensed and qualified guide.   We always have a VHF and a phone with a waterproof phone case with us.

May is a beautiful time of the year. Yet it is still early season, and it should be respected as early season paddling. For the reasons above, unless you are an experienced paddler with the proper gear I would recommend using the service of outfitters and guides. Looking to get on the water this May? Check out our Eco-tours and the Wings, Waves, and Woods tours. You can always give us a call or an email for customized tours as well!