Meet some of our guides for the 2021 season. They’re a fun bunch who love to be outdoors and on the water. They can’t wait to show you the sights and make sure your visit to Bowen Island is memorable.
Matt
Tell us about yourself.
I grew up on a dairy farm in New Zealand, which sent me on the outdoors path from a young age.
What made you want to spend the season with Bowen Island Sea Kayaking?
My main passion is white water kayaking and sea kayaking but enjoy rock climbing and hiking. Just get me doing anything outside and I’m happy. I thought Bowen Island would be a great place to spend the summer because it has all the things I love very close by.
What is one fun or interesting thing you’re always on the lookout for when you’re on the water?
Whales are something I’m always looking out for. They are very exciting and you can usually see them from far away because of their blow holes. Seeing them from a kayak is just mind blowing.
What is one piece of advice you want to share with our guests?
If you’re thinking of coming kayaking with us make sure you bring some good paddle snacks, a camera and some shoes that you’re not afraid to get wet.
Hayden
Tell us about yourself.
I’m from Horseshoe Bay and I’m in my first year of the Outdoor Recreation Management program at Capilano University.
What made you want to spend the season with Bowen Island Sea Kayaking?
Every time I go kayaking in Howe Sound, I am in awe paddling through the still water, watching the harbour seals as they bob their heads above the surface, the blue herons as they swoop over our kayaks and most importantly, the great big smiles on the faces of the people I am paddling with.
What are you most looking forward to about paddling this season?
I am excited to share with guests some knowledge about the countless seabird species like oystercatchers and blue herons, the intertidal species like sea stars and mussels, the marine mammal species like seals and sea lions, and the whale species like humpbacks and orcas.
What is one fun or interesting thing you’re always on the lookout for when you’re on the water?
When I’m on the water, I am on a constant lookout for harbour seals. I’ll never stop being delighted by their cute little heads and their big, black eyes.
What is one piece of advice you want to share with our guests?
Seas the day.
Viola
Tell us about yourself.
I am from Toronto, Ontario but I moved to BC in 2018, fell in love with the West Coast and have been here ever since! I am currently an Outdoor Recreation Management student at Capilano University. You can most likely find me splitboarding in the mountains or hiking in a mossy rainforest.
What made you want to spend the season with Bowen Island Sea Kayaking?
I hope to help others create meaningful connections with the natural world.
What are you most looking forward to about paddling this season?
I look forward to meeting new people and sharing the wonders of Howe Sound!
What is one fun or interesting thing you’re always on the lookout for when you’re on the water?
I am always on the lookout for orcas! They are amazing creatures, very smart and social. Orcas have an intelligent communication system in which each pod develops distinctive noises so that its members can recognize each other from far distances.
What is one piece of advice you want to share with our guests?
Take a moment to sit back in your kayak, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you.