Kayaking Skills Saturna Island has earned 35 five-star Google reviews from kayakers across Canada and beyond. Our students and tour guests share their experiences learning sea kayaking, taking Paddle Canada certified courses, and exploring the Gulf Islands by kayak with instructors Fred Shadian and Ruth Daber on Saturna Island, BC.
Our reviewers come from Vancouver, Calgary, Victoria, and as far as Colorado and beyond. They consistently highlight Fred and Ruth's patient teaching style, deep local knowledge of Saturna Island waters, and ability to build confidence in paddlers of all ages and skill levels.
Whether you are taking your first kayaking lesson, working toward Paddle Canada certification, or joining a guided sea kayak tour of the Southern Gulf Islands, we invite you to read what our guests have to say.
Google Reviews — Kayaking Skills Saturna Island
Posted on Google
JamesTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Completed the level 1 sea kayaking course with Ruth just over a week ago. We had a great time and would recommend it for anyone thinking of exploring the waters around BC this way. Ruth is a good instructor and reassuring presence, and the group size is small so you'll get plenty of individual feedback.Posted on Google
Viviana FloresOur introduction to Kayaking Skills Saturna Island happened during a bike-packing trip to Saturna Island. We came across their information, booked the Sea Star Watch Paddle Tour, and had a wonderful 3-hour experience with Ruth, one of the owners. She guided us along the shoreline, helping us spot wildlife while sharing fascinating information about the island, local ecosystems, and sea kayaking in general. We were hooked from the very first paddle. A year later, we decided to take their Paddle Canada Level 1 Sea Kayaking Skills Course, and it exceeded all our expectations. Ruth was incredibly flexible and accommodating throughout the booking process. The pricing was also much more attractive than similar courses offered in Jericho Beach or Deep Cove, and you get to learn in the spectacular setting of Saturna Island with highly experienced instructors. The wildlife encounters alone made the course unforgettable. Over the two days, we had bald eagles soaring overhead, sea lions swimming nearby, curious river otters watching us from a distance, countless sea stars, fish leaping from the water, herons, and kingfishers. It was truly amazing to learn in such an incredible natural environment. On the afternoon of the second day, Fred, Ruth's partner and co-owner of the company, joined us. Together, Ruth and Fred shared a wealth of knowledge, practical skills, and kayaking wisdom that have given us a solid foundation for what is quickly becoming our new favorite activity. Thank you, Ruth and Fred, for sharing your passion, expertise, and love of kayaking. We can't wait to return to Saturna Island for more tours and training in the near future. Highly recommended for anyone looking to learn kayaking, improve their skills, or simply experience the beauty of the Gulf Islands from the water.Posted on Google
Fernando ConejerosI took my L1 sea Kayaking course with Ruth and had an awesome experience. Ruth is a very knowledgeable and dedicated teacher and a badass kayaker. You can tell she actually enjoys teaching and spending time on the water. Looking forward to do my L2 with them! 100% recommended!Posted on Google
Samantha PortocarreroWe really have a good time with Ruth as our guide, she is so nice and patient, we were 2 adults and 2 teenagers, she did a great job showing us the right safety instructions, we will definitely do that amazing tour with Ruth again, the Kayaking was full of amazing views to the rocks and wildlife, highly recommended!Posted on Google
Paul KernanOur family enjoyed an extraordinary experience on the Kayaking Skills Saturna tour, which was made even more special by having relatives visiting from Ireland. The tour was designed to accommodate participants of all kayaking skill levels, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable and included. Ruth, our guide, was exceptionally knowledgeable and provided expert instruction throughout the tour. Her guidance helped each participant feel safe and confident while on the water, regardless of previous kayaking experience. The kayak dock at Lyall Harbour offered a variety of possible destinations for our adventure. On the day of the tour, Ruth chose a route based on the weather conditions. We paddled around Payne Point, passed Crocker Point, and explored the south shore of Saturna. The weather was ideal, with clear skies and calm water, allowing us to fully appreciate the stunning scenery. This kayaking tour provided an unforgettable experience for our family. It is highly recommended for both beginners and seasoned kayakers who are seeking an unforgettable paddling adventure.Posted on Google
Lisa ClaireWe had a great time on the Level 1 skills course with Ruth! She was friendly, encouraging, and made learning enjoyable and empowering. Really appreciated how flexible they were with our schedule, and we left feeling inspired and excited to take another course in the future. Highly recommend!Posted on Google
Lisa NgoWe had the pleasure of completing our level 1 skills course with Ruth last week and we had a great time! Ruth and Fred were extremely flexible and accommodating and able to offer a training that worked with our schedule. Ruth was also so patient with us while we practiced our wet exits. We couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. Thanks again Ruth and Fred! We will be back!Posted on Google
LukeGreat afternoon Kayaking with Fred, perfect way to explore the local islands and beaches! The office and cafe are located right next to the BC Ferry terminal, perfect location. Thanks again, hope to see you on the water soon!Posted on Google
Andrew RichardsonFred and Ruth are great. Generous, friendly, caring, and knowledgeable. I look forward to paddling with Fred again.Load moreGoogle rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 40 reviews
"What Our Guests Say — Google Reviews"
Paul Kernan — North Vancouver, BC ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Our family enjoyed an extraordinary experience on the Kayaking Skills Saturna tour, which was made even more special by having relatives visiting from Ireland. The tour was designed to accommodate participants of all kayaking skill levels, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable and included. Ruth, our guide, was exceptionally knowledgeable and provided expert instruction throughout the tour. Her guidance helped each participant feel safe and confident while on the water, regardless of previous kayaking experience. The kayak dock at Lyall Harbour offered a variety of possible destinations for our adventure. We paddled around Payne Point, passed Crocker Point, and explored the south shore of Saturna. This kayaking tour provided an unforgettable experience for our family. Highly recommended for both beginners and seasoned kayakers seeking an unforgettable paddling adventure.”
Lisa Ngo — Local Guide ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We had the pleasure of completing our Level 1 skills course with Ruth last week and we had a great time! Ruth and Fred were extremely flexible and accommodating and able to offer a training that worked with our schedule. Ruth was also so patient with us while we practiced our wet exits. We couldn’t have asked for a better instructor. Thanks again Ruth and Fred! We will be back!”
Me L — Local Guide ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Highly recommended! I took a Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Skills Level 1 with Fred and he was truly amazing with us. I was quite a beginner at kayaking, English is not my first language, and he took the time for us to acquire every aspect of the Level 1. I had a great time discovering this wild and peaceful island too. Thanks a lot Ruth and Fred for this experience. I’m gonna try to find a time to come back and improve my sea kayaking skills.”
Selby Wilkinson ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We did the Scenic Saturna by Sea Kayak tour with Fred and Ruth and had an incredible time! The tour took us along the most stunning rock cliffs where we saw some of the famous Saturna goats! On the way back we were kayaking as the sun set behind us, truly a special experience. Fred and Ruth were so welcoming and made us feel very comfortable on the water. I would highly recommend the tour, it was the highlight of our trip.”
Emmely Reijken ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We visited Ruth and Fred for a 3 day and 2 nights kayaking, camping and hiking trip. Ruth and Fred are great kayak instructors and we felt super safe kayaking with these two. We learned a lot about paddle stroke techniques, seaweeds and wildlife around Saturna. We saw orcas, eagles, otters and seals. They also provided super delicious and fresh food. We recommend a trip with Ruth and Fred and would love to visit them again.”
Tyler — Local Guide ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We had such a great experience with Fred! One of us had never sea kayaked before, and thanks to Fred’s tips, her form was unmatched by the end of the paddling journey. Fred gave us tips on where to go, and was just super friendly and wonderful. He even gave us complimentary dry bags to use during the paddle! 11/10”