Samantha Nurse, Digital Communications Officer

Are you thinking about spending the rest of your summer out on the water around Vancouver Island? If so, “A Dreamspeaker Cruising Guide” might be the perfect addition to your reading material. There are six different guides covering every boating opportunity around Vancouver Island, BC. They range from well-known popular destinations to hidden gems you might not have discovered yet.

These guides are for every type of water activity, from sailing to kayaking. Depending on where you want to explore, these guides will determine the area’s entry points and provide a summary what is in the surrounding area. There is also detail of the weather you can expect, with radio channels to find out more on the day of your adventure, as well as information on the tides and currents of the area.

With a guide to boating around the harbour, it puts you in a perfect position to go around the island to see marine wildlife. The west coast offers species like Killer Whales, Sea Lions or Humpback Whales. It is also very important to be sure you are practicing safe boating and take into consideration the wildlife that calls the ocean home. It’s recommended that you stay 100 meters away from most whales and porpoises. Below is a graphic that shows the best distance depending on the species.

Approaching Distance Infographic. Credit: Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Along with marine mammals, when you are out on the water, you will also see a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl! Depending on the time you go, you may be able to see Buffleheads, Western Sandpipers, Tundra Swans, Dunlin or Wood Ducks. So be sure to bring your binoculars and let us know what species you spot!

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