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  • The Compass blog
    The Compass blog
SUP Adventures on the West Coast

SUP Adventures on the West Coast

Wesley takes on SUP adventures on the west coast of British Columbia! Moving back to the West Coast from the Rockies has presented a whole other world of exploration and adventure. From someone aspiring to be a heli-ski guide to someone aspiring to be a SUP expeditioner, guide and instructor. My, the tables have turned! Meeting Norm Hann Back in the fall of 2014 I…
Planning a Kayaking Trip to Discovery Island

Planning a Kayaking Trip to Discovery Island

Paddling to Discovery Island is on the top of a lot of paddlers lists. It is a beautiful escape from the city that provides a wild and rugged west coast experience that can be explored in just a day. However, before setting out for Discovery, some careful trip planning is in order. If you are an experienced paddler this can be a wonderful and fun…
Paddling the Inside Passage: Q & A with Going Solo Adventures

Paddling the Inside Passage: Q & A with Going Solo Adventures

Over the span of two months Kelly Durst and Paul Everitt paddled from Skagway, Alaska down into Sidney, British Columbia for one epic trip. Following the Inside Passage, these two adventurers were surrounded by the many wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Okay! Let’s talk trip Firstly, when did you start and how long did the trip take? A: Kelly and I started early May by…
Whitewater Kayaking Close Call

Whitewater Kayaking Close Call

Russell Henry shares the story of a close call while whitewater kayaking and offers some safety tips for other paddlers Whitewater paddling can be an extremely dangerous sport, especially when seeking out rivers that have not been paddled before and take a lot of effort to get too. On Vancouver Island, these first descent rivers are much easier to visit due to the network of…
Paddling on Vancouver Island

Paddling on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island: A Paddling Paradise In the vast expanse of Canada sits a hidden gem: Vancouver Island. This island on the west coast of Canada has started to gain some serious interest in the tourism sphere for its natural beauty, rugged and mysterious coastline, historic cities and cultures, and abundant wildlife. People flock to this island from all over the world for the west coast…
Top 5  Vancouver Island Multi-Day Paddling Trips

Top 5 Vancouver Island Multi-Day Paddling Trips

Multi-day paddling trips on Vancouver Island to add to your “to-do” list After Canada 150, where everyone flocked to our beautiful country to discover why we were voted the best place to visit in 2017, it is time we got back to our adventurous roots. Canada was discovered up close and personal, from the historic uses of the kayak and canoe by the indigenous people…
Adventure Vehicles: life on the road

Adventure Vehicles: life on the road

By Russell Henry Home is where the adventures are. Adventure Vehicles: homes on wheels Living in British Columbia almost everyone has a backyard bike trail, local climbing crag, or after work class 3 river run. It’s when we start to look beyond our local areas that we discover so much more of the wild world of adventure. We make longer and longer drives for weekend…
Planning a Multi-day Sea Kayaking Trip

Planning a Multi-day Sea Kayaking Trip

How to plan a Multi-day Overnight Sea Kayaking Trip   So you have decided you want to go on a multi-day kayaking trip! Now where to start? Planning a kayaking trip for several days can be daunting and can feel overwhelming. However, preparing for a trip can create excitement and anticipation for your upcoming adventure. It is often half the fun of getting away. It…
Top 5 Fall Paddling Spots near Victoria

Top 5 Fall Paddling Spots near Victoria

Our Top 5 best places to see fall foliage from the water this Autumn in Victoria, BC We have a short Autumn season here on the west coast of Canada. A lot of rain leads to a quick fall and long drawn out ‘winter’ of bare branches and very little snow. So when the leaves begin to change you have to take full advantage of…
Pacific Marine Circle Route by Motorcycle

Pacific Marine Circle Route by Motorcycle

By Brian Henry Total distance 208km, plus more for exploring I love to explore as many things on the Island as I can. The Pacific Marine Circle Route includes so many opportunities to see the true Vancouver Island experience – completing the route on a motorcycle was a must. This quick trip was an exploratory mission to understand many of the things we can put…
The History of The Kayak

The History of The Kayak

Take a journey through Canada and explore the history of the kayak The history of the kayak is closely interwoven with Canadian history itself. Modern kayaks are used to get up close and personal with the natural beauty and wildlife found all across Canada, but, kayaks have played a large role in the discovery of the land as well. As Canada 150 approaches many are…

About Ocean River

Located in Victoria, British Columbia on beautiful Vancouver Island, Ocean River is one of the premier speciality kayak and adventure companies in North America. Brian Henry, the founder & current owner, has been running Ocean River since 1981, and Ocean River continues to be recognised as one of the most significant outdoor/paddlesports instructional & tours provider in North America.

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SUP Adventures on the West Coast

Wesley takes on SUP adventures on the west coast of British Columbia!

Moving back to the West Coast from the Rockies ...