Aquabatics  Smithers B.C.  Instruction
Get outdoors and go paddling—it's a beautiful world! Paddling can be a calming or an exhilarating experience; it can be an escape, it can be freedom, or simply a pleasant means to experience good times with your family or friends. You'll enjoy yourself and get fit, without a “regime.” With Aquabatics you'll get quality instruction, whether you're learning your first strokes or going on a multi-day excursion. “Paddling is our Passion.” Tel: 1-877-440-WAVE (9283).  Web: www.aquabatics.com  Email: aquabatics2@shaw.ca 

Blue Vista Resort & Sea Kayaking  Gulf Islands, B.C.  Instruction
Take a getaway to the islands and learn to kayak. Blue Vista Sea Kayaking offers a number of introductory kayaking programs for adults, children and groups in and around beautiful Mayne Island and the Gulf Island National Park Reserve. Instructors are guides and educators. Rentals and tours also available. Tel: 250-539-2463, 1-877-535-2424. Web: www.kayakmayneisland.com  Email: info@kayakmayneisland.com 

Campbell River & Comox Valley Kayaks  Vancouver Island BC  Instruction
National and Multinational Certificated instructors. Beginner to Instructor courses available. With facilities on the water, 15 years experience, and swimming pool instruction for safety and rescue portions of courses. Optional, 1-on-1 training available, and opportunities for work experience/training in the field alongside professional guides/instructors. Toll Free: 1-888-545-5595.
 Web: www.KayakUtopia.com  Email: info@comoxvalleykayaks.com 

Coast Mountain Expeditions  Vancouver Island, BC  Instruction
At Coast Mountain we make learning a part of all kayaking experiences. Every kayak tour includes pre-trip kayak instruction, paddling skills and rescues practice. During your multi-day trip learn about low impact camping, weather and basic seamanship, compass & navigation, tides & currents. “Sea Kayak Getaway at Coast Mountain Lodge” is a 3 day instructional program. We also offer 3–6 day custom school group packages. Join our 20th season! Tel: 250-285-2823. Web: www.CoastMountainExpeditions.com  Email: coastmtn@island.net 

Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre  Vancouver, BC  Instruction
Ecomarine Ocean Kayak Centre, in Vancouver, BC, is one of the largest and most experienced kayaking schools in the country. They have taught over 27,000 people the necessary skills for safe and comfortable ocean kayaking. Check out www.ecomarine.com for a complete listing of programs from beginner to professional CRCA certification. Ecomarine has every way to get you on the water in an ocean kayak. Go paddling today! Tel: 604-689-7520 or toll free 888-4-CKAYAK. Web: www.ecomarine.com  Email: school@ecomarine.com 

Island Outfitters  Anacortes WA  Instruction
Safety, Knowledge and Skills (SKS) is the backbone of our school. We know from experience that becoming a confident, safe kayaker takes time. Our school allows you to progress with confidence allowing you to comprehend and master skills in manageable increments. You have the rest of your life to enjoy the sport, don't lose your life trying to enjoy kayaking without instruction. Call toll free: 866-445-7506. Web: www.seakayakshop.com 

Madawaska Kanu Centre  Barry's Bay, ON  Instruction
The Madawaska Kanu Centre provides highly personal instruction in Whitewater Kayaking, Canoeing and Kayak Touring – leading to CRCA certification. Located just outside of Algonquin Park, MKC offers all the comforts of a European-style vacation resort. Classes are small, the water clean, warm and uncrowded. Join us this summer for a weekend or 5-day course. Tel: 613-756-3620. Web: www.mkc.ca 

Mount Moresby Adventure Camp  Moresby Island, Haida Guaii, BC  Instruction
Mount Moresby Adventure Camp is an education and retreat facility connecting wilderness and human well being. The Society offers wilderness camps and sea kayaking courses for kids, youth and adults on Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands). 2006 will include an adventure camp for kids 6-12 and kayaking courses for older youth as well as an all women’s kayaking trip. Our facility sleeps 40 and is available for rent. Access to mountains, lakes, ocean and old growth forests. Tel: 250-626-3494.  Web: www.adventurecamp.ca  Email: jebbs@island.net 

North Island College  Vancouver Island, BC  Instruction
Pursue your dream. Seasoned instructors deliver an intensive 5 month marine-focused program toward entry-level guiding in kayaking and other coastal tourism. Professional kayak guides need to know much more than just kayaking. Runs every January to May from Campbell River, BC, and regularly leads to immediate industry employment. Option to continue as part of 2-yr. Adventure Tourism Diploma if interested in more advanced guiding skills or managing a business. Tel: 250-334-5233. Web: www.nic.bc.ca/tourism  Email: questions@nic.bc.ca 

Pacifica Paddle Sports  Victoria, BC  Instruction
Vancouver Island's Canoe & Kayak Centre in Victoria, B.C., offers paddling instruction, from beginner kayak lessons to whitewater canoeing, surf and rescue techniques. We offer everything from one-on-one pool sessions to multi-day guided ocean tours, to help expand your paddling horizons. For more information: Web: www.GotPaddle.net 

Pedals & Paddles  Sechelt, BC  Instruction
Pedals & Paddles has been providing visitors to the Sunshine Coast with easy-access, wilderness adventure since 1991. They are located right on the water, at the end of the road on beautiful Sechelt Inlet. They offer self-guided rentals, guided trips as well as beginner lessons and roll clinics taught by a certified instructor. They look forward to hearing from you! Tel: 1-866-885-644. Web: www.pedalspaddles.com  Email: info@pedalspaddles.com 

Rainforest Kayak Adventures  Tofino, BC  Instruction
Get ready to take a quantum leap! Rainforest Kayak Adventures specializes in teaching the skills of seamanship. Develop your judgment by making real decisions in real conditions. Leadership, surf, currents, and exposed coast specialists. The company is small and dedicated to excellence, with personalized instruction, superb organic menu and beautiful location. Group size limited to 8 with 2 leaders. We also offer SKGABC Assistant and Day Guide courses. Based in Tofino, BC, RKA is run by Dan Lewis and Bonny Glambeck. Tel: 877-422-WILD (9453). Web: www.rainforestkayak.com 

Sea Kayak Association of BC    Instruction
SKABC is a volunteer-run sea kayaking club. Each year, members organize events at which they share knowledge, fellowship and good times, on and off the water. Club trips and training focus on safety, skill development and respect for the environment. From January to July each year, SKABC runs an intensive training period in preparation for the summer paddling season. Instructors are club volunteers—seasoned members teach newer kayakers. Courses include Beginners, Intermediate, Rescue Weekend, Navigation and Weather. Courses are for club members only. Web: www.skabc.org  Email: info@skabc.org 

Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC    Instruction
The Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of BC is a nonprofit society which upholds high standards for professional sea kayak guides and operators in BC. Through ongoing professional development and certification, the Alliance strives to ensure safe practices on an industrywide basis. For information on the SKGABC or becoming a Certified Sea Kayak Guide. Web: www.skgabc.com 

Sea Ya Kayaking Corp.  New Jersey  Instruction
Sea Ya Kayaking Corp. is offering ACA Sea Kayak instruction and trips along the Intra Coastal Waterway, rivers and inlets in central and south New Jersey. Phone: 1-800-517-7009 Web: www.seayakayaking.com  Email: seayakayaking@yahoo.com I can also be reached through the Jersey Paddler in Brick, NJ at 1-888-22-kayak.

Silver Moon Kayak Company  Kalispell, MT  Instruction
Invest in yourself, learn new skills, or refine existing ones, and have fun on and in the water with Silver Moon Kayak Company. All courses, tours and instruction are delivered in a safe and professional manner with ACA certified kayak instructors. Silver Moon specializes in all-women's courses, yoga and paddling clinics and intermediate sea kayaking courses. Tel: 406-752-3794. Web: www.silvermoonkayak.com  Email: silvermoon@silvermoonkayak.com 

SKILS  Victoria, BC  Instruction
SKILS offers professional sea kayak guide training on Canada's west coast. Based in Victoria, SKILS has access to some of the best paddling in BC. Courses focus on developing knowledge, skills and experience for sea kayak guides. SKILS has established its reputation as an expert leader in training guides. The Assistant Guide and Day Guide courses are recognized by the SKGABC and follow the required steps to be certified as a SKGABC guide. Tel: 800-909-4233. Email: adventure@oceanriver.com 

Sunshine Kayaking  Sunshine Coast, BC  Instruction
Sunshine Kayaking, located in Gibsons on BC's Sunshine Coast, only 90 minutes from Vancouver, offers the ideal setting to discover the pleasures of paddling. Introductory and rescue lessons as well as guided half, full and multi-day tours led by experienced guides and instructors are available from April to October. Special group programs available. Web: www.sunshinekayaking.com  Email: info@sunshinekayaking.com 

White Squall Paddling Centre  Nobel, ON  Instruction
For 21 years we’ve been leaders in sea kayak instruction and tripping on Georgian Bay. Many of our staff are nationally certified instructors with Paddle Canada (five are national instructor trainers) and wilderness guides. We were the first outfitter in Ontario offering a professional AECSKO Sea Kayak Guide School Course for aspiring outdoor leaders. We run many Paddle Canada & ORCA sea kayaking certification instructor and skill courses. Tel: 705-342-5324 Web: www.whitesquall.com 

Brooks Paddle Gear    Safety Gear
Wetsuits and drysuits provide exposure protection. To slow the onset of hypothermia when exposed to water, both decrease heat loss by minimizing the water's movement across your skin. Neoprene wetsuits are great insulators, while a shell drysuit requires you to layer undergarments suited to water temperature underneath. Sprayskirts prevent your boat from taking on water in rough conditions and big water. While not a replacement for adequate ballast, using a sprayskirt can definitely enhance the safety of your paddling experience, while keeping the cockpit of your boat much drier. Web: www.brookspaddlegear.com 

Kokatat    Safety Gear
Kokatat has a wide range of safety gear. Three items of note: (1) 'Touring Tow Tether', a compact and rapid-deploying system for rescue, in PFD Mount and Waist Mount versions, with storage pouch for the line and winding shuttle ($84US); (2) 'Expedition Drysuit' incorporating GORE-TEX IMMERSION Technology fabric, with storm hood, reflective tape, left sleeve pocket, relief zipper, socks plus an overskirt that keeps the cockpit dry ($998 / $1039 US); and (3) 'The Guide', a full-featured Type V rescue PFD with reinforced shoulders, harness, hardware and rescue belt ($180US). Tel: 800-225-9749. Web: www.kokatat.com 

Natural West Coast Adventure Gear    Safety Gear
NWCA Gear is based in Victoria BC. We manufacture safety gear such as regular and oversized paddle floats, regulation throw bags, float sleeves for your pump that attach to your kayak, paddle bags for your spare paddle and rescue stirrups to assist in getting back into the boat, We have many other accessories to outfit your kayak, for details go to www.bckayaks.com. 250-391-0331. Fax: 250-391-0335. Web: www.bckayaks.com  Email: nwca@kayak.bc.ca 

Snap Dragon Safety-Off-Strap (S.O.S.)    Safety Gear
In addition to the traditional grab loop, the S.O.S. (Safety-Off-Strap) incorporates a one inch wide, flat nylon webbing that is stitched to the sides of the deck and extends across the top of the Spray deck. Pulling up on the Safety Strap releases the deck on the sides of the coaming. A buckle for adjusting the tightness of the webbing keeps the strap taut along the top of the deck. S.O.S. is available on any Snap Dragon Neoprene Spray Skirt and the Nylon Glacier model. Tel: 425-957-3575. Web: www.snapdragondesign.com  Email: info@snapdragondesign.com