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 on Saturna Island: what paddlers need to know.

2019 article below.

From the perspective of a Saturna Island based Sea Kayaker and Paddle Canada certified Sea Kayaking Instructor.

Sea kayaking is a great way to explore Saturna Island and the Salish Sea. BC Marine Trails connect some of the Gulf Islands for kayakers, going around the east side of Saturna. The route connects Narvaez Bay and Cabbage Island campsites that have marine access. We wanted to know if the new Interim Zone to protect the Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW) would mean an end to circumnavigating Saturna Island by sea kayak.

SRKW Boiling Reef Interim Zone – shaded

The image that I drew over a nautical chart illustrates the Interim Zone (Saturna Island portion shown only, gray shade) which prohibits general vessel traffic including kayakers between June 1^st to October 31^st.

Here is a link to the Transport Canada issued Interim Order.

Sea kayakers travelling around Saturna Island must pass the east side of Saturna cautiously; keeping in mind currents, shipping channels and the United States border. A previous article took a look at currents around Boiling Reef. Avoiding the Interim Zone increases risks.

I compared two likely routes from the south east side of Narveaz Bay to Tumbo Island (both locations are en route when circumnavigating Saturna). The white line is the safer shore paddle route (about 2.6 nautical miles (NM)), the black line (about 3.5 NM) that avoids the Interim Zone is less safe.

While it potentially only takes 20 minutes longer to travel this way, it means that about 2 NM (40 minutes paddling for a good paddler and good conditions) would be in waters that are hazardous. Keeping track of the exact location of oneself and the Interim zone while travelling in a sea kayak and avoiding the shipping lane, requires good GPS technology or advanced navigation skills. There are no markers on the water. Sea kayakers most often travel along shores.

A safety-stop at Shell Beach helps a kayaker to assess current conditions for safe paddling (especially if travelling south). Whales do not usually come to Shell Beach, but technically speaking it is in the Zone. I had one close encounter with killer whales in a sea kayak. The whales were Transients and outside the Interim Zone, close to Fiddler’s Cove. The Interim Zone at large is mostly a place for transiting in a kayak due to the strong currents that often prevail… idling for long periods is rarely an option.

Saturna Islander, David Osborne phoned Transport Canada and received an official email response addressing some of his concerns.

Find the full email. Here is an extract:

“However, marine safety is priority. If it is unsafe to comply with the rules, vessel operators are exempted to avoid immediate or unforeseen danger. If this is the case, Kayakers must transit through the area (cannot idle) and stay a minimum 400 metres from whales when safe to do so. ”

So, if you see kayakers transiting the Interim Zone, they are likely doing so for marine safety reasons.

KayakingSkills.com promote best practices regarding wildlife, i.e. to not disturb the animal’s natural behaviour or put oneself at risk and to abide by advised distances when safe to do so.

To conclude, circumnavigation of Saturna Island is possible and if it is unsafe to comply with the Interim Zone, it is appropriate to transit through it.

Read FAQs on the Interim Order here.

Happy & Safe Paddling!

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 on the Southern Gulf Islands.

Visitors are often drawn here for good reason. The reef, the tidal rips, the dramatic meeting of Boundary Pass and the Strait of Georgia make it a remarkable place to be on the water. But that same energy catches people off guard, and over the years there have been serious incidents. A sailboat stranded on the reef. Kayakers capsizing in conditions they did not anticipate, unable to re-enter their boats without outside help, sometimes pulling their would-be rescuers in with them. An Easter Sunday rescue of two people who had drifted beyond control in a small inflatable, brought back by hovercraft. These were typically not reckless people. They were visitors who underestimated what the water here is capable of.

Why Boiling Reef catches people out

Shell Beach at East Point can look completely still. The water is calm, the shore is sheltered, and on a clear day the whole area feels inviting. What is harder to see is why the current here behaves the way it does and maybe only minutes away from noticeable change of conditions.

Oceanographer Richard Dewey (dewey.ca) has verified something that experienced local paddlers have long understood: Tumbo Channel does not follow the usual flood and ebb pattern. Strong tidal currents flowing past East Point entrain water from the south end of Tumbo Channel and drive the current southeast on both flood and ebb. The channel flows toward Boiling Reef, regardless of the state of the overall tidal stream direction, and standard tidal models may not show this at all. More on this

Once you are in that flow, a lightweight vessel with a large surface area, an inflatable kayak for example, acts like a sail. Add any wind and it becomes impossible to control no matter how strong you are. Spring tides around full and new moons amplify everything. Greater water fluctuation means faster currents, a higher risk of capsize, and a real possibility of being swept south toward the United States. Capsize in these waters is not just inconvenient. Prolonged exposure to cold water can be fatal.

Approaching a headland like East Point or Monarch Head adds another layer. Currents funnel and form eddies as they round the point, and wind speed and direction can shift sharply. What looked manageable from a distance can be a very different sea state by the time you arrive. The same is true along Cliffside all the way to Monarch Head, where strong currents can run even when Boiling Reef itself shows little sign of activity.

Reading the nautical chart

Boiling Reef, East Point Area

This section of the nautical chart shows the concentration of hazards around Boiling Reef and East Point: intertidal rocks, rocks that cover and uncover with the tide, eddies, and tide rips, all within a short distance of each other. The red dashed line marks the Canada/USA border, and the shipping lane runs directly through the area, bringing larger vessel traffic, varying water depths, and increased fetch that can drive stronger winds and waves. The lighthouse symbol at East Point is a reminder that this is a marked danger zone, not a casual paddling destination.

The strong currents, rips, and eddies here are not obvious to the untrained eye. Using a nautical chart is essential for identifying what you are paddling into, and knowing how to read one is a skill essential having before you paddle here.

The right boat matters

Sea kayaks are built with the ocean in mind, but they are not all the same. Some are designed to handle waves and dynamic conditions. Others are optimized for forward speed on flat water and require extra skill to keep upright. Recreational kayaks from large retail stores are built for sheltered, flat water. They are not suitable for East Point. Some do not have sealed buoyancy compartments, which means they will not float if they capsize.

Paddling safely around East Point

If you want to explore this area, preparation is the best thing you can do. Take a course and learn to read tides, currents, and nautical charts. Practice rescues before you need one and in safely in conditions you are likely to encounter. Gather local knowledge of the areas you plan to paddle. Use the right boat and safety gear, paddle with people who know how to help you if something goes wrong, and file a float plan with someone reliable before you leave.

Wear your PFD and dress for immersion. The water around Saturna is cold throughout the year (8-12 °C). To avoid the strongest currents, plan your paddles around neap tides near the first and third quarter moons. Our Saturna Kayaking Resources page has current speed data for Boundary Pass near East Point along with everything else you need for trip planning. That said, the currents are variable in speed and direction along the south eastern side of Saturna.

If you have your Paddle Canada Level 1 certification or equivalent and want to experience East Point with experienced guides, our Around Saturna in 2 Days tour takes intermediate paddlers right through this area. It is one of the most rewarding paddles on the Southern Gulf Islands, and knowing the water is a big part of what makes it that way.

Our Paddle Canada courses cover tides, currents, and hazard awareness as core skills. The Level 2 course includes rescue practice in waves and currents. East Point is exactly the kind of place those skills are built for.

Tag Archives: Currents

SRKW Interim Order and Sea Kayakers

Boating Hazards at Boiling Reef, East Point

Reading the nautical chart