Zodiac Nautic is a French company best known for their widely-used inflatable boats. The tubes of a Zodiac are separated into several waterproof chambers. This incredibly safe design will keep it afloat and conceptually unsinkable even when fully loaded. Our professional MilPro MKV Zodiacs are used by militaries and expedition companies around the world. They're a perfect fit for Exploring the South Shore!
We find the best experience for our guests is at high tide. Because the earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” every lunar day, high tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. Higher water allows us to get into place that at are impassable at low tide!
Absolutely! Pricing for private tours will depend on your group size. Please click on Private Charters or contact us to discuss a private experience.
It is common to see Atlantic grey seals, osprey, great blue herons, mink, and deer as we explore Tanner's Pass and Lunenburg's Back Passage. However, our true goal is to provide guests an opportunity to learn about flora, fauna and geology in a quieter, less tourist-focused part of beautiful Nova Scotia. We operate in an area with few local tour operators, who are often looking for hard-to-find marine mammals. That said, you never know what what you are going to see as we Explore the South Shore!
We are not whitewater rafting, but please plan to get at least a little wet. It is preferable to dress in layers that will keep you dry and comfortable. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are an important addition on sunny, summer days. With appropriate clothing, we are confident you will enjoy your time on the water, even if it’s not picture perfect.
We absolutely explore in light rain, wind and fog! That’s part of the adventure! However, we keep a close eye on marine weather forecasts, and if we have any safety concerns we will contact you the day of the tour. We offer full refunds and opportunities to reschedule when Mother Nature forces us to cancel excursions.
All you really need is the clothes on your back to go Zodiac exploring! We will provide you with a PFD (a personal floatation device) – which you are required to wear while on the water. If you'd like to bring a full, re-usable water bottle and snack, go for it! There's also plenty of room on the zodiacs for your smartphones, cameras and binoculars. Just remember your electronics could get wet if the seas are up or there is any precipitation.
Prior to your excursion, it's a good idea to manage your ballast. We have a porta potty at the Retreat which you can use anytime before and after your tour. There isn't a washroom on a Zodiac.
We do accept walk-ups for scheduled tours, however we have a limited number of spaces on our Zodiacs so we encourage you to book in advance.
We are open for scheduled tours from May through September. We don't have a storefront or a place to hangout if you just drop by for a visit.
Our online reservation system accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. You are also welcome to pay in person where we accept cash, debit, and a variety of credit cards.
Riding in a Zodiac is not physically demanding at all! If you you can sit up straight for two hours, you are good to go. Keep in mind that a little ocean swell could require a moderate sense of balance. The most important thing is a desire to explore!
We have had guests as young as 5 and adults in their 90s. The only prerequisite is that you can sit up in the zodiac for the duration of the tour. If you have particular mobility issues, or you are unsure if a ride in a Zodiac is appropriate for you, feel free to get in touch.
Our Zodiac tour is very affordable so we require payment in full at the time of booking. We reserve the right to cancel tours due to weather, safety, mechanical issues, or an insufficient number of participants. If this happens to your tour, full refunds will be issued and we will do our best to reschedule.
We will not issue refunds if you cancel within 24 hours of scheduled tours unless a suitable replacement is found. If your seat(s) are resold, a full refund (minus a $10 administration fee) will be issued. We reserve the right to cancel tours due to weather, safety, mechanical issues, or insufficient number of participants. If this happens to your tour, full refunds will be issued and we will do our best to reschedule.
