Answers before you paddle

No. Tidewater's courses are built to get new paddlers safely onto the water, starting with paddle strokes before moving into rescues and trip planning.

Paddle strokes covers strokes and edging, the foundation skills for control on the water. Rescues builds the skills to recover yourself and a paddling partner. Trip planning covers the skills to plan a safe day out.

Most paddlers start with paddle strokes to build core control, then move on to rescues and trip planning as they're ready.

Browse the current course list at /courses and enrol in whichever one suits where you're at.

Course details, including dates, are published on /courses.

The online portion of each course is available any time. On-water sessions run May to September, so timing for those follows the season.

On-water sessions run May to September. Outside that window, you can still work through course material online.

Tidewater is based at 1 Dallas Rd, Victoria, BC, with on-water sessions in local Victoria waters.

Every course follows Paddle Canada skills and is taught by certified sea kayak instructors.

What to bring is listed on each course page at /courses, so you'll know exactly what's needed before your session.