Paddle, swim and laze around on one of our lakes or at the beach. Take a boat tour or dinner cruise, kayak, canoe, sail, dive or paddle board. And of course you could go fishing for your dinner! Read on for more information or click here for a list of businesses to help you enjoy the outdoors >> And we have plenty of intertidal and marine wildlife to enhance your day including whales, porpoise, otters, beavers, seals, sea stars and birds whether it's the Bald Eagle, Great Blue Heron, the 'punk-rock' Belted Kingfisher or Oyster Catchers. Kayaking, Canoeing & Paddleboarding Kayaking and Canoeing activities on Salt Spring Island include : Take lessons and learn to kayak (or develop your kayaking skills) with our experts Take a kayak tour. Options include sunset or moonlight paddles, a picnic on secluded Chocolate Beach or a variety of guided tours through the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve. Stand Up Paddle Boards can be hired from Salt Spring Adventures. Bring your own canoe/kayak or rent a kayak and explore everything Salt Spring has to offer for yourself! Both Island Escapades and Salt Spring Adventure Company offer kayaking lessons, fabulous tours and kayak rental. Boating & Sailing Salt Spring and our surrounding islands is a heavenly place to sail. With wildlife sightings abounding and Ganges Village right on the doorstep of our Marinas you get the best of land and sea. Salt Spring Sailing Club also hosts the infamous annual Round Salt Spring Race Weekend in May. Boating and Sailing activities in and around Salt Spring Island include: Take a scenic or dinner cruise Fishing Tours. There are many fishing opportunities on Salt Spring Island even non-traditional 'fishing' including crab, prawns and shellfish. Both Silver Spoon Charters and Salt Spring Island Reel Action Fishing Charters will take you on a fishing adventure you'll remember. Go sailing. Organize a custom tour, or take an afternoon (half-day) sail tour with Lorenda Sailing. Sit back and relax or take the helm - it's your choice. Bring Your Own Boat If you're bringing your own boat we have a number of options including: Ganges Marina - right in the heart of Ganges Village close to the famous Salt Spring Saturday Market, supermarkets and a myriad of shopping opportunities. Salt Spring Marina, on the edge of Ganges Village, right next to the famed Hastings House, Moby's Pub and the Harbour House Hotel as well as Rendezvous Cafe and Salt Spring Adventure Tours. Salt Spring Sailing Club has reciprocal moorage arrangements with other yacht and sailing clubs in our cruising area, and operates a Volunteer Wharfinger program in summer. Click here for visitor moorage facilities >> And of course there are docks on the south end of the island in Fulford, on the north-east of the island in Fernwood, a government dock on the south west of the island in Burgoyne Bay, and various launching sites for smaller craft around the island coastline. Boat Chartering Charter a boat to take you diving, fishing, sight-seeing and more with Silver Spoon Charters, Salt Spring Island Reel Action Fishing Charters or Outdoor Visions. Charter a sailboat with Lorenda Sailing For boat charters for larger parties (boat sizes start at 12 people) there is Gulf Islands Water Taxi. Fianally, create your party or event onboard a 45 foot catamaran with Salt Spring Tours Whale & Wildlife Watching The waters on the coast of British Columbia are home to many cetaceans. Whales most commonly seen include the Pacific Grey Whale, Orcas and Humpback whales. Also in BC, you may see the Pacific White Sided Dolphin, Dall's Porpoise and the Harbour Porpoise. In fact a BC Ferries' Captain will often announce whale pods, sometimes slowing the ship - or even taking a small detour. Take a "Gulf Islands Safari" - a Zodiac (type of boat) whale and wildlife watching tours from Salt Spring Marina with Outdoor Visions You could also take a day-trip to Victoria or Sidney on neighbouring Vancouver Island if you'd prefer a larger boat environment for your whale watch - boats with toilets and roofs to guarantee you'll stay dry! Charter a boat or sail boat for your own customised wildlife tour. Diving & Snorkelling The waters around Salt Spring have great visibility, wrecks and teem with colourful marine life including a variety of sea stars, gorgeous anemones, eels, crab, octopus, seals and more. Recommended diving and/or snorkelling spots include: Beaver Point in Ruckle Park is on the south-east tip of Salt Spring Island. For more information and photos of Beaver Point visit Mark Hiebert's diving website here >> Vesuvius Bay - is a wonderful west-facing area on the west side of Salt Spring where the sun beautifully warms the sea over the rocks. For more information and photos of Vesuvius Bay visit Mark Hiebert's diving website here >> Beddis Beach - a delightful small sandy south-east facing beach on the east side of Salt Spring Island. You'll need to bring your own gear and boat, take a Gulf Islands Water Taxi or charter a local boat to take you out.
