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 Decision Making Process

Go/No Go: Weather, Wind, Currents & Tides

Go/No Go? That is the question. Are the conditions suitable for the trip you have in mind?
Make each piece of information below plus your skills, your group's skills and your equipment part of your decision making process for a Go/No Go choice. Learn and understand what your preferences and limits are regarding wind, waves and weather.

We have put together several sources of information for you to make your Sea Kayaking trip safer and more enjoyable. Some of the below information updates automatically while other information is linked to open up in a new window when it was available for us to do so (otherwise it will take you off our website and you have to hit the "back" button to return to our site.

Plan and prepare ahead of time. Your data service may not work in certain areas around Saturna Island and the neighboring Southern Gulf Islands. You can also use this PDF (specific to Saturna Island) to print and complete.

Disclaimer: we cannot guarantee the accuracy of information provided through the listed links.

Tip: If you are using a mobile device, take several screen snap shots.

Land Based Weather

Weather and Wind with Windfinder

Select "Forecast map" for a visual of winds in our area.

Go directly to the Superforecast by Windfinder.

If your browser does not support Weather and Wind with Windfinder display in this window, go directly there.

Thank you Windfinder for providing this awesome embedded information. If wind speed is showing in km/h vs knots, you can adjust this in your browser when visiting Windfinder's site.

The forecast map does not take into consideration local winds that can vary dramatically around sheltered, funneling or exposed land masses of our relatively small islands.

Weather Underground

Weather Underground provides a quick visual weather assessment for Saturna Island at wunderground.com. You can access the 10-day weather forecast, wind direction, sunrise, sunset, moon cycle and much more. A free mobile app is also available. Note that the site has become increasingly ad-heavy over the years.

Marine Weather

Marine Weather Guide for Pacific Waters PFD

Download or View PDF

Environment Canada: Marine Forecasts for the Pacific waters

Regular Forecast and Technical Marine Synopsis: 4 am; 10:30 am; 4 pm; 9:30 pm
Extended Forecast: 4 am; 4 pm
Wave Height Forecast: 4 am; 4 pm

Use the below RSS feeds for updated information (check date and time is most recent) in our area. Updated forecasts are issued as required. All issue times are Pacific Standard or Daylight Saving Time (PST/PDT). To view other surrounding Straits, you can Get the full listing for the Pacific Waters here

RSS RSS click below for full info

  • Extended Forecast - Haro Strait
    Wednesday: Wind variable 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 10 late in the day.Thursday: Wind southwest 10 knots increasing to southwest 10 to 20 late in the day.Friday: Wind southwest 10 to 20 knots.Issued 04:00 AM PDT 20 July 2026
    Environment Canada
  • Forecast for Today Tonight and Tuesday. - Haro Strait
    Wind variable 5 to 15 knots becoming southwest 10 to 15 early this evening then becoming variable 5 to 15 overnight. Wind becoming southwest 10 Tuesday evening except southwest 15 to 20 over southern sections. Issued 04:00 AM PDT 20 July 2026
    Environment Canada

RSS RSS click below for full info

  • Extended Forecast - Strait of Georgia - south of Nanaimo
    Wednesday: Wind variable 5 to 15 knots becoming northwest 10 to 15 late in the day.Thursday: Wind northwest 10 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 to 15.Friday: Wind variable 5 to 15 knots becoming southeast 10 to 20.Issued 04:00 AM PDT 20 July 2026
    Environment Canada
  • Forecast for Today Tonight and Tuesday. - Strait of Georgia - south of Nanaimo
    Wind northwest 20 to 25 knots diminishing to northwest 10 to 20 late this morning then becoming variable 10 early this evening. Wind becoming southeast 5 to 15 near midnight then becoming northwest 10 to 15 Tuesday morning. Wind diminishing to light Tuesday evening. Issued 04:00 AM PDT 20 July 2026
    Environment Canada

Tides4Fishing

Another favourite Kayaking Skills Resource is Tides4Fishing.

You will find comprehensive information on any area that you pick. The default location of the link may be Georgina Point, which is located at our neighbors (on Mayne Island's North).

Among plenty of useful topics, the site gives information about wave height.

Tides & Currents

Tides at Fulford Harbour

Click for TODAY.

Tides: Fulford Harbour

Fulford Harbour, Salt Spring Island is the monitoring point for the Southern Gulf Islands.

Read more about tides in our area.

Saturna Island Boat Passage Currents

Click for TODAY.

Currents: Boat Passage

Keep in mind that Flooding is toward the Vancouver mountains and Ebbing is toward Winter Cove on Saturna Island.
This website was created and developed by our friend Jeff Bairiki of www.dairiki.org

Find out more about currents around Saturna Island.

currents at boundary bay

Click for TODAY.

Currents: relevant to East Point

Go to tides.mobilegeographics to view currents for Skipjack Island, 1.5 mi northwest of (depth 15 ft), Washington Current (48.7495° N, 123.0608° W) and other locations. Currents at this location have relevance when kayaking around East Point and the surrounding areas, where currents can be very strong. We recommend careful consideration of currents, winds and your skill level when navigating this area. There is no single current station telling the full story here. Direction, speed, and timing of currents vary greatly across the wider area affecting the southeast and eastern coast of Saturna Island. No guarantee is given for accuracy of the linked data.

Moon Phases

Moon Phases on Saturna Island

Click for TODAY.

Lunar Calendar for Saturna Island, BC, Canada

Check out the moon phases for Saturna Island.
Keep in mind that around Full and New Moons tidal ranges will be greater and currents stronger.
Read more information on Tides and Currents.

Water Temperature

water temperature in victoria bc canada

Click for more information.

Water Temperature in Victoria, BC

Water temperatures are averages for Victoria and not Saturna Island. They however reflect similar temperatures for us ranging from 8° in winter to 14°C in summer. For more information either click the picture to the left or check out our article Why wear your PFD.

Highly Recommended

Carry a VHF Radio for 3 reasons.

Carry a VHF Radio for 3 reasons.

  1. In case of an emergency, you can call the Canadian Coast Guard for assistance on Channel 16.
  2. Get the marine weather forecast from the Canadian Coast Guard, broadcast on VHF channels 21B and 83B. Note that Environment Canada's Weatheradio service was permanently discontinued on March 31, 2026. However, Environment Canada continues to post marine weather forecasts online at weather.gc.ca/marine. Marine forecasts via the Canadian Coast Guard on VHF also continue.
  3. Stay in contact with other kayakers and boaters while traveling and crossing passages or channels.

For local weather forecasts and alerts, download the free WeatherCAN app by Environment Canada. For wind and marine conditions specific to paddling, use Windfinder (featured above).

*16 on your mobile/cell phone calls the Canadian Coast Guard for marine emergency.

Find comprehensive information about getting to Saturna Island and planning your trip for your visit.