Life in Between: The Intertidal Zone
November 20th, 2018
Many people come to kayak on northern Vancouver Island in hopes of seeing wildlife. We are frequently asked questions about sea-dwellers (such as whales, dolphins, and seals) and landlubbers (like wolves, bears and eagles). But what many fail to appreciate ahead of time is the vast diversity of life found in the intertidal zone. Our hope here is to shed…
The Great Bear Rainforest: A Swell Place
October 20th, 2018
Nothing makes a Spirit of the West kayak guide get all mystical like the Great Bear Rainforest. Ask any of our guides about the Great Bear Rainforest Expedition and they’ll get a far-off look in their eyes, breathe deeply, and say something akin to “ah, yes, the Great Bear.” To a kayak guide, our most northerly expedition (in the Central…
And the winner is…
October 15th, 2018
Holy paddler! This was another year of spectacular photo submissions. Once more, we are amazed and truly grateful. A BIG THANK YOU to all our 2018 participants for capturing those special moments that show the unique characters of the places we are fortunate to kayak and explore! With so many excellent entries, it was difficult to choose a winner. There were…
Big Waves In The BC Tourism Industry
September 22nd, 2018
SMALL, COASTAL KAYAKING COMPANY IS MAKING BIG WAVES IN THE BC TOURISM INDUSTRY Sunset Magazine about Spirit of the West Adventures Spring and Summer, 2018: Spirit of the West Adventures’ owners – Rick Snowdon and Breanne Quesnel – were thrilled to accept the Remarkable Experiences Award from the Tourism Industry Association of British Columbia. The award was given in recognition of the…
Seaweeds – Where Nori Comes From
May 3rd, 2018
A common feature found on our kayak tours around Vancouver Island is the presence of seaweeds in their many shapes and forms. Marine ‘macroalgae’, or seaweeds, are plant-like organisms that live attached to rocks in the intertidal zone, in giant underwater forests, or floating on the ocean’s surface. They can be very tiny, or very large – growing to over…
