Discover Sooke

Mr. DiscoverSooke and I took to open waters on Sunday, setting out in Hobie inflatable Kayaks. Ok, maybe ‘open waters’ is stretching it a little, but we did tour all around Sooke harbour in these very impressive, easy-to-manoeuvre vessels.

We rented our Hobie Kayaks from Allan, owner of West Coast Outdoor Adventure Rentals, operating out of the Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina on West Coast Rd. in Sooke, British Columbia. Very reasonable rates! We spent two hours exploring the Sooke basin, circling the Florence Filburg shipwreck, and even viewing the activity on the ocean floor. With the incredibly low tide, we had excellent visibility into the sea life and vegetation beneath us. And, we couldn’t have asked for better weather!

Because Hobie Kayaks are extremely stable, they are perfect for novice kayakers like Mr. DiscoverSooke and I. They use a unique pedal system that propels you through the water, allowing us to travel further and stay out longer with minimal effort. We let our legs do most of the work, only using our paddles when necessary, leaving our hands free for photography and video production. Though, I had a few scuffles with some very determined seaweed, ultimately I broke free and won the battle. Using a slight fluttering action with my pedals, just like Allan instructed during his safety demonstration, combined with strategic steering with my paddles, the seaweed, flood tide and mounting winds was no match for me. The kayaks are really easy to operate and I felt safe and in control the entire voyage.

Along the way we attracted some spectators, two curious harbour seals who decided to swim alongside my kayak. It is thrilling to watch these incredible creatures away from the shoreline. I definitely got the feeling that they were just as fascinated with me as I was of them. It was an incredible experience seeing Sooke from this completely new perspective. I will definitely be taking out the Hobie again in the near future, and I hope you have the chance to as well. Not convinced? Want to learn more? Click here to check out the DiscoverSooke video about our entire excursion.

For more information on the Sooke Region and all the great activities to take part in while you’re visiting, please be sure to check out the official Discover Sooke website.

Filed under: Latest News on July 27th, 2009