Seal Island Kayaking Tour - Victoria BC
This is a great kayaking tour if you are a beginner or if you have some experience kayaking and would enjoy the company of fellow paddlers. The small group of islets on the first headland to the west from Victoria's Harbour is fondly called Seal Island by kayakers because it is an active harbour seal colony and nursery for most months of the year. These islets are called Harrison Islands on a marine chart. The location of these islands is ideal for raising young seal pups because it is too shallow for larger predators that eat marine wildlife to access. It is also a nutrient rich environment with schools of herring for the seals to eat as well as many abundant kelp forests. It is an awesome training ground for parent seals to teach and train their young until they are safely weaned.
Most of the harbour seals in our area were born and raised either at Seal Island, Split Rock or on any of the coastal islands near Victoria's Harbor throughout the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They are very familiar with kayaks passing by quietly while the babies are nursing or hunting in the water. The babies are usually born in July or sometimes late June and they stay nursing and growing for approximately eight weeks before weaning.
Most of the harbour seals in our area were born and raised either at Seal Island, Split Rock or on any of the coastal islands near Victoria's Harbor throughout the Strait of Juan de Fuca. They are very familiar with kayaks passing by quietly while the babies are nursing or hunting in the water. The babies are usually born in July or sometimes late June and they stay nursing and growing for approximately eight weeks before weaning.
Harbour seal sunning at Seal Island
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Our kayaking tour will take you from our shop out into the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Seal Island, the first stop on the 3.5 hour tour. We will linger and watch the seals in their natural habitat. We will continue paddling to a small island kayakers call Split Rock with a visit in the kelp forests along the way. This is really called Gillingham Island on a marine chart. We call it Split Rock as it seems to be one island that has a big gap in the center that we can paddle through to see some intertidal sea life up close. Examine the barnacles, sea stars, clams and mussels as well as many marine birds as they live, eat and grow in this rich, diverse part of the sea. We will have our snack and a water or tea break here before we loop back to our starting point.
Tour Details:
Price: $82 per adult $72 per child 12 and under
Time: 3.5 hours Distance: 5 kms round trip
Tour Departs: 10:00 am daily including weekends
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate. We include a mini lesson at the beginning of all kayaking tours.
Group Size: two to six guests per certified guide * Minimum of two guests booked for the tour to run.
Included: single or double kayak, all kayaking safety equipment, professional guide services, granola bar, bottled water and complimentary photographs of your tour.
Not Included: Gratuities are not included.
Conditions: Kayaking tours will operate in calm ocean conditions to moderate windy conditions up to 12 knts. If the wind is higher we will modify the tour to take advantage of protected areas. Skill level of all kayakers on a tour may also determine tour modifications.
Ages: Children 7 to 14 years will need to be accompanied by an adult in the front of a double kayak. Ages 14 and older can paddle in either a double or a single kayak.
Cancellation Policy: Cancelling or making changes to your booking 48 hours or more before the departure time will have NO charge. Cancelling or making changes to your reservation within the the 48 hours will result in full charges. No shows will be charged. We require a VISA or MC number to reserve your space on a tour. We will complete a pre-authorization of your card. You will need to bring your payment with you and complete payment prior to participating in the tour. Please visit this page for medical and waiver information.
Please call 250-858-9090 or email nici@victoriawaterfronttours.com to book your tour. Please call to make bookings between 6:00- 8:00 pm or between 8:00- 9:30 am. There is a good chance we will be on the water during the daytime hours. *You can call us for free if you download Whatsapp.
Price: $82 per adult $72 per child 12 and under
Time: 3.5 hours Distance: 5 kms round trip
Tour Departs: 10:00 am daily including weekends
Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate. We include a mini lesson at the beginning of all kayaking tours.
Group Size: two to six guests per certified guide * Minimum of two guests booked for the tour to run.
Included: single or double kayak, all kayaking safety equipment, professional guide services, granola bar, bottled water and complimentary photographs of your tour.
Not Included: Gratuities are not included.
Conditions: Kayaking tours will operate in calm ocean conditions to moderate windy conditions up to 12 knts. If the wind is higher we will modify the tour to take advantage of protected areas. Skill level of all kayakers on a tour may also determine tour modifications.
Ages: Children 7 to 14 years will need to be accompanied by an adult in the front of a double kayak. Ages 14 and older can paddle in either a double or a single kayak.
Cancellation Policy: Cancelling or making changes to your booking 48 hours or more before the departure time will have NO charge. Cancelling or making changes to your reservation within the the 48 hours will result in full charges. No shows will be charged. We require a VISA or MC number to reserve your space on a tour. We will complete a pre-authorization of your card. You will need to bring your payment with you and complete payment prior to participating in the tour. Please visit this page for medical and waiver information.
Please call 250-858-9090 or email nici@victoriawaterfronttours.com to book your tour. Please call to make bookings between 6:00- 8:00 pm or between 8:00- 9:30 am. There is a good chance we will be on the water during the daytime hours. *You can call us for free if you download Whatsapp.
