Kayaking at Hoi Ha
This was probably the first time that I have kayaked in Hong Kong. We went to Hoi Ha in Sai Kung for an exciting day in kayaking.
About Hoi Ha Wan
Hoi Ha, in Chinese, means “beneath the sea.” The beaches in this area, some of them only accessible by kayaking, are blessed with pristine waters. They are also known for the viewing of coral reefs and sea stars. As such, all kinds of adventures are available here, including kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, snorkeling and diving.
In order to protect the eco-system of Hoi Ha, the Hong Kong Government designated Hoi Ha Wan (Hoi Ha Bay, also Jone’s Cove) as a Marine Park in 1996 pursuant to the Marine Parks Ordinance. This status entailed the restriction of certain activities in this area, with the aim of protecting its wildlife habitat. Prohibited activities included fishing, the casting of fishing nets, the use of chemicals to fish, or the carrying away of the wildlife here, such as coral reefs.
And certainly the Ho King Store does its part in maintaining the beautiful natural environment too. After the day’s activities, visitors may use fresh water to shower, but the use of chemicals such as shampoo and bath liquids is not permitted at the facilities.
Photo above: The Hoi Ha Pier
Kayak Rental at the Ho King Store
There are a few vendors in Hoi Ha that provide kayak rental to adventure seekers. We reserved our kayaks with the Ho King Store. The Ho King Store offers hundreds of boats for rent, but you must book in advance because they did run out on our date of first choice. We then reserved the kayaks for the next day, and on that day too all the kayaks were fully rented out.
At the Hoi Ha Village we found our way to the Ho King Store, which was half way between the mini bus stop and the beach. It is the most prominent store within the village. We proceeded to changing, and we also stored some of our belongings in a rented locker.
As we were ready to go, we grabbed our life vests (they are a must), and our paddles. Then we walked over to the beach and received our kayaks. Off we went, four kayaks altogether, into the open sea of Hong Kong.
After kayaking, visitors can have a meal at the Ho King Store restaurant. This vendor does offer a full service for the day.
The Trip Out to the Sea
Before we received our kayaks, the staff advised us that we should be seeking refuge in any shore nearby if we see a storm approaching. Do not insist on paddling back to this beach if we can find another shore. Then wait for the storm to ease and paddle back.
I went with a family of four plus the aunt of the two young children. The mother took the daughter with her, and the father took the younger son, in their double-capacity kayaks. The aunt of the children knows the area well. She has probably paddled more than thirty times already. She led our way.
We were “testing the water” first when we started. It was safer to go along the coast, so we headed out from the beach toward the Jockey Club HSBC WWF Hong Kong Hoi Ha Marine Life Center. It lies eastward from the beach that we departed.
The Marine Life Center offers a number of initiatives for community involvement in environmental protection. Besides the standard educational programs, there are also clean-up projects and other conservation activities. The Center also offers boat tours with a glass-bottomed boat so that visitors can observe the marine life beneath the boat.
We boated to the Marine Life Center and enjoyed the views of raw, living barnacles on the underwater pillars of the Marine Life Center.
Then we kayaked to a nearby beach. It was very small, but with clear water and a mangrove right at the beach. We found a sea urchin and the children received a little introduction of this sea life from their aunt.
After staying at the beach for a break, we decided to kayak northward to reach the far-away channel between the coast and the Flat Island. This was the part that became very challenging to me. As I kayaked on the open sea, it took significantly more strength to go against the wind and the currents. The waves were strong and at a certain point I was feeling slightly sea sick. I managed to reach the tip of the coastline, and decided that I would not head out further. I told the group that I was heading back to the safety of the bay instead.
It still took a while in the calmer waters of the bay, but I did make it back to the beach. I then headed back to the Ho King Store to wash up. When the group returned, my friends told me that they had a rough time out at the sea, although they did reach that channel between the main shore and the Flat Island. The aunt had to tow the kayak of my friend, who was taking her daughter in the kayak. I was very glad that I realized my limit, for if I had also gone, I would have needed help too.
Overall, however, the whole Hoi Ha area was full of adventure seekers. We also saw two rescue boats patrolling the sea. The impression was that it would have been quite safe throughout, but as with always, any water sport entails risks even with the best of weather.
There have been fatal accidents here at Hoi Ha before. Safety is paramount and be vigilant in watching the weather and the currents.
How To Get There
In Sai Kung, we took green top minibus Route 7. It probably took us about half an hour on this route to Hoi Ha. Do be mindful that it is peak time to leave Hoi Ha in late afternoon. Be prepared that you may have to call a taxi to head back to Sai Kung, as we did.
Sources
The Wikipedia on Hoi Ha Wan (Jone’s Cove)
