Sea Kayaking for Beginners: What to Expect on Your First Paddle
Somewhere in the first few minutes on the water, something becomes apparent. This feels special. You are low on the ocean, connected with it. The water stops being something you look at, or travel on via a ferry or large boat. It is right there, inches below you, and you are moving with it. You […]
How to Get to Saturna Island: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
Saturna Island… Hard to get to, harder to leave — but so worth it. Saturna is one of the most beautiful and least visited of the Southern Gulf Islands. How to get to Saturna Island takes a little planning, but that’s part of what makes it special. This guide covers every way to reach Saturna […]
Kayaking near killer whales on Saturna Island: what paddlers need to know
Saturna Island sits at the heart of some of the most productive killer whale habitat on Canada’s Pacific coast. East Point, at the island’s northeastern tip, is one of the finest land-based orca viewing spots in the country. Boiling Reef, just offshore, concentrates fish and draws feeding whales reliably enough that locals time their summers […]
Why Saturna Island is One of BC’s Best Sea Kayaking Destinations
If you are looking for a sea kayaking destination in British Columbia that combines world-class paddling conditions, extraordinary wildlife, and an unspoiled natural environment, Saturna Island deserves to be at the top of your list. Tucked into the southern end of the Gulf Islands, Saturna is the least developed and least visited of the Southern […]
SRKW Interim Order and Sea Kayakers
Please note: This article was written in 2019 and the regulatory framework it describes has changed significantly. The Interim Sanctuary Zone no longer exists under that name, approach distances have been updated, and a shoreline corridor for human-powered vessels is now in place. For current information please read our updated guide: Kayaking near killer whales […]
Boiling Reef Rescue by Hovercraft
Pictures taken by Louise Peramaki Easter 2019, Saturna Island
Boating Hazards at Boiling Reef, East Point
That circle on the Current Atlas marks East Point on Saturna Island during an ebb at spring tide. The thicker the arrow, the stronger the current, and as you can see, they converge right at the tip of the island. This is Boiling Reef, one of the most spectacular and most hazardous stretches of coastline […]
Deer Group Paddling Tales – Part 2
The Deer Group Islands are in the south east corner of Barkley Sound off Bamfield, British Columbia. A previous article told the story of humpback whale encounters that we made during the second day of a multi-day kayak camping adventure in this gorgeous area. This is Part 2 of our trip. The next day is […]
Deer Group Paddling Tales
The Deer Group Islands are in the south east corner of Barkley Sound off Bamfield, British Columbia. They are less known and harder to get to than the neighbouring Broken Group of Islands. We love the Deer Group Islands for their ruggedness, arches and narrow sea caves that you can access by sea kayak or […]
Saturna Kayaking Resources
This page presents an overview of resources to help you accumulate all necessary information about predictable conditions of weather, wind, tides and currents with links to relevant information sources. Use these to help plan your sea kayaking trip in the surrounding waters of Saturna Island. Go/No Go? That is the question. Are the conditions […]
Saturna Island Winter Paddling
Temperatures have cooled, we see more rain and wind but less small boats out and about. Yes, winter is approaching. While the weather pattern has changed dramatically, we can still have a great time kayaking our gorgeous coast. Get out more this winter. Paddle safely year-round. Top Tips for Winter Paddling: Dress for the occasion: […]
Saturna’s Currents Decoded
Understanding sea kayaking currents around Saturna Island is essential for safe trip planning. If you haven’t already, our article Saturna’s Tides Decoded connects closely with this one. The general direction of flood (feathered arrow) and ebb tidal streams around Saturna Island are shown in the image. Ebb and flood currents between Saturna and Pender Islands […]
Saturna’s Tides Decoded
The following information, observations and conclusions are from the perspective of a Saturna Island based Sea Kayaker and Paddle Canada certified Sea Kayaking Instructor and compiled to the best of her knowledge and experience over the past five years. Tides move up and down, currents move side to side. Tides are actually long-period waves that […]
The Sea Kayaker’s Self Defence
No, this is not going to be a martial arts class… more like a lesson in self defense when wind and weather play more than you planned for. Your forward stroke is your Number 1 safety stroke and if you do it badly, it can hurt through injury over time or because you cannot move […]
Marine Weather Workshop Report
Let’s face it: talking about the weather can be a dry or wet subject. Not so at the April 14th Marine Weather Workshop with Tony Merry from the Pender Island Squadron. 13 eager students gathered in the Community Hall on Saturna Island to talk about the weather. The weather man brought some good weather humor […]
Why wear your PFD
During the past five years of living on Saturna Island, enjoying water sports and running a sea kayaking business, my husband Fred Shadian and I have witnessed many paddlers not wearing a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) or lifejacket when on the water. To some it feels unnecessary or uncool to wear a PFD, but the […]
Local Marine Weather Workshop on Saturna Island with Tony Merry
We are hosting a one day Local Marine Weather workshop with our favourite weather teacher Tony Merry (Canadian Squadron Instructor of the Year). Tony was a Canadian Airlines pilot for a couple of decades and a sea kayaking tours and rentals business owner on Pender Island and successfully navigated a sailing trip from Vancouver Island […]
Kayaking with Orcas
It is Sunday night on Cabbage Island. Midnight! Tomorrow, Monday, will start within seconds. I should be sleeping… I can’t. My mind is stirred up. Today was a great day. No. It was beyond great. Today was an unbelievable day! I close my eyes and I can see them again, the gentle giants, as they […]
FAQ
Why is Saturna Island a great place to learn sea kayaking?The right conditions in a beautiful setting: Saturna Island is a beautiful location to visit and offers a variety of sea states to practice kayaking skills. From beginner’s level on flat water to more challenging waters and strong currents; there is some real “hands-on / […]
