SEAL ISLAND KAYAK TOUR

We meet at the Esquimalt Anglers Association with ample parking and easy launch. We set you up with all your gear and you sign our waiver (your guide can function as the witness).
You should wear comfy clothing (fast drying athletic wear or merino wool is best but not required) and any kind of shoes (although water shoes would be preferable) You won’t get very wet but some drops may sprinkle on you from paddling.
You’re welcome to borrow drybags for your stuff, or leave it in our van.
Now’s the time for a bathroom stop before we launch our boats.

We start with a mini lesson on the dock or beach before we launch our boats. You will get an introduction to safety procedures and depending on your skill level basic kayaking strokes and handling.

We launch from the beach and paddle out to the Gillingham Islands which are locally known as Split Rock (it looks like a massive rock split in two). Tides levels permitting we can paddle through the rocks for a mini canyon experience! The inter-tidal life on bare rock is always something to be astounded by. There are barnacles, sea stars, clams, mussels and many species of marine birds such as herons, oyster catchers, cormorants and if lucky, even bald eagles.
After this we will continue along the coast. Our main accessible wildlife attraction is a small group of islets called Harrison Islands on a marine chart. They are locally known as Seal Island because it is an active harbour seal colony and nursery for most months of the year. The rocky islands are ideal for seals because they’re surrounded by shallow waters, which stops large marine predators from hunting the seal pups. The nearby coastal area is owned by the Department of National Defense making it an exemption from the usual dense human development of the city. Seal island is also at the nexus of coastal and inner harbor currents which makes for a thriving underwater environment.
We will have a snack and drinks here on a nearby beach adjacent to MacAuley Park. Afterwards we continue paddling around the point into Victoria’s Inner Harbour before looping back towards Seal Island. We will linger around the islands and watch the seals and their pups up close without disturbing them. The seals are all locally born and raised along the coast and scattered islands and islets which make up Victoria’s coastal waters, and as such they are quite accustomed to kayakers and marine traffic. The babies are usually born in late June and July, and they stay nursing for approximately 8 weeks before weaning. You can often hear the parents snorting, sneezing and slapping the water, and the pups are even more vocal, but don’t worry they are harmless!