A Conversation with... David Porter.

Who are you?

Hello I'm David Porter, the owner of South End Adventures. I am born and raised in South Carolina and am proud to call this place my home. I am fortunate enough to have spent my entire lifetime having the great outdoors as my playground. From the mountains to the sea, and everything in between I have a deep love for it all. Starting South End Adventures has given me the opportunity to work in the places I love doing what I love. I am extremely happy and grateful to share my knowledge and experience with my clients, and aim to offer them the best experience possible. Whether that be in the ocean teaching surf lessons, or way up a creek exploring and fishing it is truly an honor to be your guide and instructor and can't wait to meet everybody out on the water!

What exactly is South End Adventures?

South End Adventures is an extension of me and a few of my deepest passions. It’s where nature, art, and movement can all coexist. I love being able to pass on my knowledge and skills to others, and show them our beautiful natural areas here along the coast. 27 years of failures and successes in the outdoors has given me a lot of experience to draw from, and it’s an honor to be able to share the things and places I love. My biggest goal for my clients is not for them to ride the biggest wave, paddle the fastest, or catch the biggest fish, but rather for them to connect with nature in a way that they haven’t before. With development and the modern world ever shrinking the natural environment, I believe this connection between humans and nature is more important than ever. People can not be expected to want to protect and save things that they have no personal experience or connection with. I hope I am able to bridge that gap through fun and educational experiences for people from all backgrounds and walks of life as this extends beyond all of that. The ocean, the woods, the marsh, the river, is for everyone. Being out in those environments has always been such a healing place for me and I want to share that with others so they can also reap the benefits. And hey, we can catch some good waves and big fish in the process too.

What made you want to start South End Adventures?

I spent several years working for a couple of other companies while I was in college doing kayak and paddle board ecotours, and also teaching surfing lessons mainly in the Myrtle beach/North Myrtle Beach area. I had a great time doing it and learned a lot from those I worked under, but about a year after graduation I realized I wanted to do my own thing and put my own personal touch on it. And I wanted to move further south towards Georgetown as there is more water and woods to explore. I think my mindset and worldview combined with my life experiences gives me a unique perspective and I wanted to run with that. My goal is for intimate natural experiences that connect my clients deeply with themselves and their natural surroundings. I want to get way off the beaten path and take you along with me, as that is where we can find the most untouched and magical places. I look forward to continuing to build off of what I already have, and all of the wonderful people that I will keep being blessed to meet.

What is in store for South End Adventures in the future?

As of right now we currently offer surf coaching for all skill levels, beginner to advanced, and surf guiding to some of the more remote breaks in the area. We also offer kayak and paddleboard eco tours, as well as fishing trips off of those same vessels in fresh and salt water. In the near future I will be getting my captain license (currently in the process) and we will be adding half and full day inshore fishing charters to the mix also. I have an spare unit off the back of my house complete with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room and outdoor patio that I am working on converting into a short term rental space. It can be rented by anyone, but will be offering packages for people that want to surf, fish, or paddle over the course of multiple days. There will also be some eco friendly apparel and handmade merchandise (flies, fins, lures, etc) to be on the lookout for in the future. Lots of exciting things coming and I can’t wait to share them with everyone!