Our Team - Cape Coral Kayak Rentals & Kayak Tours

Our mission is to promote paddle sports safety and environmental stewardship through education and outreach.

Our Team enjoys introducing guests to the wonders of Matlacha Pass Aquatic preserve while fostering a love for conservation through their passion for ecology and environmental stewardship

Bryan Stockbridge co-owner of GCK, ACA Certified Kayak Instructor and Florida Master Naturalist Coastal Systems graduate has co-lead water safety, paddling & kayak fishing seminars and workshops for various lee county non-profit organizations. Bryan is passionate about introducing the community to the sport of paddling through education, outreach, and stewardship. As our Community Outreach coordinator Bryan helps organize shoreline cleanups and habitat restoration projects such as Monofilament Madness and Mangrove Mania in partnership with Keep Lee County Beautiful. When not in the shop, you can find Bryan leading Eco Tours, Guided Kayak Fishing trips or on the water scouting for fish!

Dan Carns was raised fishing the southern swamps and lakes in Georgia & Alabama with his Dad & brothers. Once the family settled in New England Dan turned his passion into an obsession fishing for Stripers & Bluefish in the waters around Cape Cod. While living on the Cape he became a National Park Service ranger & trained naturalist & guide. These experiences shaped his heightened understanding of the environment, as well as the food & shelter that fish seek! Life would eventually deliver Dan to Vermont where he honed his fly fishing skills on the wild brooks, peaceful beaver ponds & cold water streams flowing down the mountain sides. Dan has since returned to his southern roots perfecting his skinny water knowledge around Pine Island Sound & the Matlacha Aquatic Preserve. His 45 years of guiding & teaching people to fish are a lifelong pursuit & continue to this day at Gulf Coast Kayak!

Daniel McKenna Dan’s love of the great outdoors began at a very young age while honing his fishing skills in the northeast fresh and salt waters. His love for fishing took him on many trips to Florida’s east and west coast as well as the Florida Keys. Today Dan spends much of the year fishing Florida’s west coast backwaters, particularly the areas around Matlacha Pass and Pine Island Sound. The surrounding wildlife of this area only intensifies the thrill of a a successful fishing experience for Dan!

Diana Stockbridge co-owner of GCK, ACA Certified Paddle Board Instructor and Florida Master Naturalist is our H2O Kayak Adventure Summer Camp Director, Corporate Team Building and Paddling Events Coordinator. In partnership with The Great Calusa Blueway, Diana has helped organize and run the Calusa Blueway Kayak Fishing Tournament for the last several years raising funds for charitable organizations such as the Candlelighters of South West Florida. When not on the water, Diana can be found leading 4th grade school field trips at the Randell Research Center in Pineland or planning our next event!

Jim Niehaus ACA Certified Kayak and Paddle Board Instructor and Florida Master Naturalist is an active member and volunteer of Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife, Randall Research Center and the Florida Public Archaeology Network. In addition he has taken the lead in his community’s lakes watch program monitoring water quality, assessing watershed health and function, and screening for invasive aquatic plants and animals. He is an exceptional instructor, water man, and steward and often takes the lead on all of our conservation efforts as well as corporate team building and large group paddling events. As program coordinator for our H2O Kayak Adventure Camp Jim enjoys the dynamic and exciting opportunity of working with children and strongly believes in the importance of building a program that includes a solid foundation of paddling skills, water safety, ecology, and conservation!