Sea kayaking doesn’t get better than off Vancouver Island, British Columbia Canada. This is an area so vast and wild that it can’t be described in a quick paragraph. Vancouver Island is located on the west coast of Canada and is about 460 kilometres (285 miles) from the North-West tip to the South-East tip and is about equal to the size of Taiwan.

Vancouver Island is lucky to boast mountain ranges, the highest peak at 2,195 meters or 7,201 feet is called Mt. Golden Hinde. The Hinde is roughly the geographic centre of Vancouver Island and in part the cause of such variances in weather patterns across the island.

The west coast of Vancouver Island is mainly exposed coastline that tends to be damp and incredibly beautiful on the outside  Long deserted sandy beaches, islands and inlets mostly wild run up the coast to the top of the Island. If you were traveling up island from South to North you would notice immediately that between the two ends of the island the environment is very different. In the South around the city of *Victoria the climate is mild and compared to the North quite dry. As you passed the centre of Vancouver Island it would become immediately apparent that the climate is much wetter and cooler and continues to increase in dampness as you head to the top end of the island.

To the sea kayaker, the change in weather brings much to see in increased vegetation, water falls and more. On the inside or East side of Vancouver Island the water is even cooler as you pass **Campbell River (about the halfway point) and head into Johnstone Strait. Although the West side of the island is beautiful and wild the East side has the rushing tides, channels and islands that attracts sea kayakers from around the world. Because you are nestled between the large mountains of Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia the area tends to experience less winds and no ocean swell at all. This makes ideal conditions for sea kayaking.

*Victoria is the capital of British Columbia, not Canada, and is home to about 78,000 in the city proper with another 330,000 in the suburbs).

**Campbell River is located at the south end of Discovery Passage about half way up Vancouver Island. It has all amenities and has approximately 32,000 people calling it home. Up until a few years ago the main industry was the Pulp Mill but after its closure much of the work force is looking to tourism and other areas to make a living. For many years Campbell River has been hailed as the Salmon Capitol of the world attracting fisherman from around the world most notably many movie stars, celebrities and dignitaries have been attracted to the fine fishing lodges in the area like Painters Lodge or April Point.

For more information on Vancouver Island sea kayaking visit sites like Out For Adventure Wilderness Tours www.outforadventure.com or Hello BC.