Paddle Diva Founder Gina Bradley Discusses the Magic of Getting Out on the Water

Gina Bradley founded Paddle Diva in the summer of 2009. The business was started on the premise of specifically catering to women and helping them learn the sport of stand-up paddle boarding while also listening to what they wanted from the sport. Paddle Diva has since grown after its inception to be one of the most popular rental, tour, and lesson companies for paddle sports on the East End.

Gina has always had a passion for water sports and fitness, and she loves to share her philosophy and knowledge with others. She believes that we are at our best when out in nature and she loves the social aspect of her business. Gina spoke more about her background, the evolvement of Paddle Diva, what the business offers, and encourages East Enders and visitors to hit the water with them when they have the chance!

Can you discuss your background with stand-up paddle board and water sports?

GB: Like many people, most of my twenties were spent chaotically figuring out who I was and what I was passionate about. My journey started in the 1990’s when I became an aerobics instructor on a cruise ship. However, that did not last long as I decided to hop off the ship in the Caymans and never get back on. While in the Caymans, my love for the water developed as I worked as a divemaster and became an avid windsurfer. I ended up buying and living on a small sailboat during this time, forcing me to intimately become familiar with winds, currents, and navigation. During this stint in the Cayman Islands, my life became intrinsically tied to the water, believe it or not I almost went to the Olympics in 1999 for windsurfing. After five years in the Caymans, I moved back to New York City, where I worked a job in sales and marketing. However, my need to be by and on the water continued to define my life, and every weekend I would come out to the East End to get my fix. With each weekend escape I fell more and more in love with the East End. Eventually, I made the permanent move out east, met my husband, had two kids, and built my life out here. After the trials of early motherhood had run their course, I began looking for work again.

What led you to create Paddle Diva?

GB: In 2007, my husband, Scott Bradley, had some of the first paddle boards out on Long Island made for the ocean and waves. Once I stepped foot on a board, I was hooked. I immediately recognized paddle boarding as a great way to introduce people to being on the water. Paddle Diva was born, I trusted my gut and started a business aimed at sharing my passion and love of the water with others. 

How long has Paddle Diva been in operation and how has it grown over the years?

GB: Paddle Diva has been in business for fifteen years. The first few years I ran the business out of the back of my pickup truck. It was just me, a few boards, some dedicated clients, and all the bays in the Hamptons to explore. As we started to get busier, I took the leap and moved to a permanent location at The Shagwong Marina on Three Mile Harbor. At this location, my business really started to grow into what it is now. Over the years, I have employed many local kids as they transitioned from high school through college, and into their adult years, with many of my staff returning year after year and creating relationships with our clients. In 2021, after ten years at The Shagwong Marina, I moved again to a woman owned marina at the southern end of Three Mile Harbor. At the Vandeveer Marina our direct water access is second to none. Only thirty steps from our water access where we paddle right into the most bucolic part of Three Mile Harbor. This new location is absolutely ideal for renters of all experience levels and provides a perfect backdrop for our lessons and tours to launch from. I built out a shipping container to be our shop, welcoming guests to come paddle, kayak, shop, or simply just hang out. From truck to shipping container, my business has grown and evolved in numerous ways, but I have to say, the current setup has been my favorite so far! 

What’s the most rewarding aspect of this business?

GB: It’s challenging to pinpoint the most rewarding aspect of running Paddle Diva for the past fifteen years. Every day is unique, and I find new moments of fulfillment continue to keep the business rewarding in more ways than one. With that being said, it never gets old to see the confidence and joy people gain from being out of the water. Paddle boarding provides a moment of reflection, a pause from the daily chaos of life. Whether it is someone’s first or one hundredth time on a paddle board, the smiles and reactions of people as they step off the water are infectious and something that continuously reminds me why I started this business in the first place. 

Can you describe what Paddle Diva is and the class and lesson offerings?

GB: Paddle Diva is set up so that it is really easy to get on the water! We offer rentals, lessons, group tours, SUP yoga, full moon paddle tours, and our bi-weekly adventure paddles. All our lessons and tours are about one hour, that allows for a brief land lesson, and then we take off and do the rest of the learning on the water. It’s very easy to paddle in our location, the waters are flat and calm, and it is surrounded by birds and lush greenery. Adventure paddles, SUP yoga, and the full moon paddles are all a bit longer from ninety minutes to two hours and are worth the extra commitment in time as they are ideal for improving your skills or just spending more time on the water in a more adventurous way!

What makes Paddle Diva unique and sets it apart from other paddle tour/class companies on the East End?

GB: The atmosphere. Coming to Paddle Diva is never just a paddle board lesson or rental. A trip to our center is an experience within itself. One day you can walk up to the shop and be greeted by a brigade of dogs wagging their tails or dripping wet from being on a board themselves. Another day you might catch one of our instructors with a board on top of their head singing along to the music playing from the shop’s speakers. On top of providing our clients with detailed instruction on how to paddle, guiding them through being a novice paddler to a comfortable intermediate, Paddle Diva emphasizes the importance of genuine connections and service. As much as we value the benefits of paddle boarding to one’s health and wellness, we also place importance on the interactions we have each day with new people and fostering a community that aims to bring people together. 

Are your classes and lessons held in different locations depending on their specific purpose, the weather, tide, and other factors?

GB: We really like our clients to come to our center, which is steps from a gorgeous nature preserve called The Kathy Lester Preserve and we are inside the Vanderveer Marina. Our location is so quiet and set back from the Hamptons rush, that we like our clients to come take a moment and relax while looking out at the water from our seating area. 

We do offer an adventure paddle every Friday and Sunday and that location changes every week for paddlers who want to get out and see more of the gorgeous bays that surround the Hamptons. These are slightly long and are the perfect way to work with one of our more experienced staff who can help you learn more about navigating the waterways and improving your skills. 

Paddle Diva will happily do private locations for bachelorette parties, family gatherings, or just groups of people who want to paddle privately in other spots. So don’t be surprised to see the paddle diva truck roaming from Hampton Bays to Montauk with a truck bed filled with boards! 

What is some of the most important advice to keep in mind when participating in SUP, whether it be focused on form, safety, or otherwise?

GB: Safety is always the most important thing. SUP is an outdoor sport where understanding the winds, currents, and boat traffic (to name just a few) is paramount to a safe and enjoyable experience. Whether you are paddling in ponds, lakes, bays, or the ocean, knowing the potential hazards before going out there is important. Assuming safety is a given, I think having a good time is the most important thing. At Paddle Diva, we do teach form and technique while teaching people about winds and currents, but we make sure to emphasize having a good time. We live busy lives, so in the hour on the water with Paddle Diva we like our guests to feel like they are learning something but having a relaxing and fun experience.   

What is your absolute favorite thing about being out on the water, and more specifically, your favorite thing about SUP?

GB: My favorite thing about being on the water is simply being able to disconnect from the pressures of everyday life. When I’m on the water I can decide if I want to paddle hard and fast to get in a good workout or slow and easy, which puts me into a meditative state. I love how social paddleboarding can be, all of my best conversations with friends or strangers happen on the water. SUP is so accessible, really anyone can get on a paddleboard and enjoy the pristine beauty all around us in the Hamptons. I think too many people spend too much of their day inside on computers or phones. SUP gets you away from that and into nature where we all get to be the best versions of ourselves.   

To learn more about Paddle Diva and book your next water adventure, visit https://paddlediva.com.