With the Pacific Ocean surrounding our city, and lakes scattered throughout the lower mainland, getting out on a body of water is easy. The real challenge is deciding which water activity to dip your feet into. From Wreck Beach to English Bay, Vancouver offers a range of water-based entertainment for everyone. If you want to feel the icy mist against your skin, swim with seals and watch for whales, then it’s time to grab your water shoes and book one of these ocean excursions!

Vancouver Water Adventures offers a variety of activities from kayak, paddleboard and seadoo rentals, and zodiac boat tours showing off the city’s most spectacular views from the Burrard Inlet while going at speeds of up to 50 mph. This summer, you can take part in their Light the Night tour where you can go on lit up paddle boards and kayaks and watch the water change in colour as you pull yourself through the waves around you. This tour requires paddleboarding experience and operates on weekends, lasting 1.5 hours.  Vancouver Water Adventures has locations in Granville Island and Kitsilano Beach.

Also offering tours by open-air zodiacs and departing in Granville Island is Sea Vancouver. Ranging from 1.5 to 3-hour tours, you can expect to see some incredible views of the Lions Gate Bridge, picturesque waterfalls, seal colonies and bald eagles in their natural habitat. Over in Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver, you can also find Sewell’s Marina offering zodiac sea safaris and boat rentals.

If you’re a real ocean enthusiast and want to get out on the water, Vancouver offers the best conditions for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Head down to Jericho Beach where you can find a mix of ocean tide, flat water and wind speeds ranging from two to twenty knots throughout the year. This also makes it the perfect beach for sailing and skimboarding. 

For those looking for a softer water adventure, hop on board a Prince of Whales or a Vancouver Whale Watch boat to spot humpbacks, orcas, minke and grey whales migrating between the months of March to October. Apart from whales, this is also a great opportunity to see dolphins, sea lions, and seabirds.