Who We Are

Who We Are
What You Can Expect From Us

To be cared for. We take our role quite seriously. You should expect safety first, and personal enjoyment second. We'll bend over backward trying to make your event a success for you.

While Big D guides most of the tours, there are 9 guides/coaches/instructors available to support larger groups or multiple events simultaneously. All head guides are internationally trained and certified. All guides are trained in water rescues and life saving, first aid, and CPR.

Our trips usually have a guide to paddler ratio of 5 to 1, certainly less than 10 to 1. Classes are usually 4 to 1. Our guides are all trained, some committing thousands of dollars on continuing training and certifications. Some even teach at international symposiums every year, where they get to work with top international instructors.

You should also expect a well planned event. Simple things like tides are important to the success of an outing.

The Players

Don Thompson
DIRECTOR OF FUN
BCU Aspiring Level Three Coach/Sea Kayak
BCU Four Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
BCU Two Star Award/Canoe
ACA Instructor Essentials of Kayak Touring (Level 2)
BDA Three Star White Water Paddler
NOC White Water Raft Guide
First Aid & CPR
Hi. I'm Don Thompson, Director of Fun at Big D's Kayaking and Sweetwater Kayaks. I have been a paddling guide and corporate trainer for four decades. Since 1963, when I led my first paddling tour, I recognized that my paddling students wanted to become technically competent kayakers and have a lot of fun while building their skills. To that end, my wife Donna and I created PrecisionMania© - a technically precise, synchronized and humorous demonstration of kayak paddling techniques.

Many of my colleagues call me “The Clown Prince of Kayaking,” in part because I like to laugh and have fun but also because I created "Bananamation" - using a banana, which looks a lot like a kayak, to demonstrate the effects of wind and water while paddling. I am accomplished in both sea kayaking and white water and have been associated with Sweetwater Kayaks since 2003.

Donna Thompson
BCU Level Two Coach Aspirant/Sea Kayak
BCU Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
BCU Two Star Award/Canoe
First Aid
CPR

Donna Thompson has been paddling for nearly twenty years. Donna teaches paddling classes, leads guide trips and helps out on Sweetwater Kayaks Demo Days. She was the very first Precision "maniac."

She is a very talented teacher, having received several awards and acknowledgements for her past teaching experiences. At one training event prior students put out the word that Donna was a great instructor, and every new student signed up for her classes leaving the other teachers alone with their paddles.

In her spare time, Donna (and Don) train service dogs for the blind as Area Coordinators for Southeastern Guide Dogs.

Bob Chierico
BCU Level Two Coach Aspirant/Sea Kayak
BCU Three Star Award/Sea Kayak
BCU Canoe Safety Test
First Aid
CPR

Bob has been paddling since 1994. He moved here from Queens, NY. He is an avid fisherman, loves music, ballroom dancing, and paddling.

	Big D's provides kayak training and guided kayak tours throughout Florida. We are centrally located in the Tampa Bay area, and most of our events are within a 2.5 hour drive.				727-403-7046
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