Sea kayaking - Lessons and season (Seattle: safety, places, summer)

[JDG1]

I have just moved to Seattle and am interested in taking up sea kayaking, which I have never done (though I am a good swimmer). Questions:
1. One person recommended "The Kayak Academy" to me for private lessons, while another recommended NWOC. Any experience with either place?
2. Do people kayak in the fall/winter, or is it too cold/rough on the lakes and in the Sound? I have noticed that formal, group lessons have ended at both places mentioned above (though private lessons are still possible). Is this because only hard-core folks kayak in the winter? I am not hard core!

Thanks in advance.

[pihranna]

Kayak academy is good, also you can go to a website "Rogue Wave Adventures." You can arrange private lessons with a very good instructor.

[RVD90277]

If you simply want to get in a kayak under some supervision to learn the basics, just go with the REI kayaking class. It's usually on a Saturday morning and you'll be done in about 3 hours or so. They provide all of the kayaks and safety gear and they'll make sure you learn all of the basics. It's also pretty cheap.

RVD.

[Apathizer]

NWOC is good, and so is REI. I have no first hand experience with the Kayak Academy, but they do have a good rep.

In general I would say kayaking is more common is mid-Spring through Fall. Some do kayak in the Winter, but not very many because, yes, it's too cold and potentially stormy. Kayaking in winter requires much warmer attire like a wetsuit or dry-suit, otherwise capsizing can be potentially life-threatening. Puget Sound water temp is still pretty cold even in summer, but at least when you get back in the kayak the air is usually considerably warmer (typically upper 60s). In winter, going from 40-degree water to 40-degree equals hypothermia unless you're wearing a wetsuit, or preferably a dry-suit.