Lisa Deziel

Uncommon Adventures
Benzonia, Michigan

About me

Lisa Deziel fell in love with sea kayaking over ten years ago and has developed into a dedicated kayaker, coach, and guide. She is an ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayak Instructor and holds ACA Level 4 Open Water Coastal Kayaking Skills, the British Canoe Union (BCU) Four Star Sea Kayak, and the BCU Three Star Canoe award. Growing up in Canada, she developed a love for outdoor life and she is comfortable in sea and surf kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards. Lisa has spent many years exploring the waters in the Everglades and the Florida Keys and has paddled and camped around the world, including Wales, Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, Canada, the Great Lakes, and Central America. She is also proficient in fly fishing, spending time each fall in the Yellowstone area, chasing trout and fly fishing for bonefish, permit, and tarpon in Florida and the Caribbean. In addition to paddling, chasing fish on flies is one of Lisa’s favorite activities during her travels! Lisa is currently on a leave from her academic position in the College of Pharmacy at Nova Southeastern University. For information on what we are up to, please follow our FaceBook and Instagram sites. 

Certifications

American Canoe Association

Level 4 Instructor Coastal Kayaking; Level 4 Skills Coastal Kayaking; Paddlesports Safety Facilitator, Level 3 Coastal Kayak Trip Leader


British Canoeing

4 Star - Kayak; 3 Star - Canoe


Reviews

5.0 (8 reviews)

Trip: Sleeping Bear Sampler Remix: Learn to Kayak Boot Camp

With Lisa D. on June 30, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

The Sleeping Bear Sampler weekend was great fun! We enjoyed the wonderful food, lodging and beautiful lakes (Lower Herring, Crystal Lake, and Lake Michigan). More importantly, Lisa and Michael helped us work on a number of key kayaking skills - tighter turns , stern rudders, draw strokes, sculling for support, self-rescue techniques, and paddle-float re-entries to name a few. I would highly recommend similar trips with Uncommon Adventures. Lisa and Michael are extremely knowledgeable and are excellent teachers. We look forward to going on more Uncommon Adventures trips in the future!

By Anne H. on July 04, 2023

Trip: Sleeping Bear Sampler Remix: Learn to Kayak Boot Camp

With Lisa D. on June 30, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

We had a great time with Michael and Lisa! We learned a great deal and had a very enjoyable experience. The food and accommodations were top notch. We would definitely recommend this trip to those looking to improve their kayaking skills.

By Curtis W. on July 04, 2023

Trip: Sleeping Bear Sampler Remix: Learn to Kayak Boot Camp

With Lisa D. on June 30, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

Great 3 night program. Lisa (who we often broke off with) provided detailed instructions to us as absolute sea kayaking beginners. She made sure to challenge us, and also gave lots of positive feedback. I am now very confident in my knowledge of basic strokes, my ability to get myself back into a kayak after a fall, and my ability to assist other kayakers in rescue situations. The food was good, healthy, and my gluten free diet was well accommodated. The scenery was very nice and the over night accommodations were clean and comfortable.

By Mckensie W. on July 04, 2023

Trip: ACA Coastal Kayaking: L2 Skills Training Day

With Lisa D. on June 08, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

I loved the focus on the fundamentals. Although I was there to have fun and learn, I came away knowing exactly what strokes I focused on and the proper way to do them. The small class size allowed for a lot of individualized attention. Lisa didn't seem to tire of my incessant and random questions. She reinforced good stuff and gave constructive feedback on ways to improve.

By Becca E. on June 13, 2023

Trip: ACA Coastal Kayaking: L2 Skills Training Day

With Lisa D. on June 08, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

Had a great day of lessons and practice. Michael and Lisa are great teachers. I have been kayaking for years but I got a great new perspective on how to have fun and be efficient on the water.

By Jim O. on June 08, 2023

Trip: ACA Coastal Kayaking: L3 Skills Training and Optional Assessment

With Lisa D. on June 01, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

Took the Level 3 assessment course with Michael & Lisa. They graciously shared their home with us campers and provided an excellent course to make us all better and safer paddlers, highly recommended

By Daryl M. on June 05, 2023

Trip: ACA: Paddlesports Safety Facilitator Certification

With Lisa D. on May 23, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

By Julie C. on May 31, 2023

Trip: Sleeping Bear Sampler Remix: Learn to Kayak Boot Camp

With Lisa D. on May 26, 2023

Company: Uncommon Adventures

Start to finish a long weekend of adventure and being in nature with wildlife . Learning the core kayaking skills was insightful and the activities were fun. I had full trust of Michael as a teacher and a leader which I believed pushed me to my full potential during personal survival skills in the water Thank you for your warm hospitality and excellent food it was a treat . In fact the food was bloody marvelous Cheers ! Susan

By Susan R. on May 30, 2023