Certification Programs

Offering programming for any level of paddler.


& The Entire Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Programming.
A man and woman in kayaks on a calm body of water, with the woman smiling and lying in her kayak while the man stands in the water and leans on his kayak, both wearing life jackets and helmets, with a scenic shoreline of trees and houses in the background.

Introduction to Sea Kayaking

This program offers extensive and flexible skills training for novice and seasoned paddlers looking to build their fundamental skills. The two day program focuses on the technique of the fundamental strokes and rescues, while also building on the necessary theory topics to plan a day trip. We offer these programs from our Mill Bay & Port Sidney paddling centers.

The "core" paddling strokes, wet exits and proven rescue techniques make up day one of this excellent course. On day two participants will have the opportunity to pack a kayak with gear necessary for a comfortable a day trip and take part in group trip planning, weather interpretation, navigation and risk assessment. A full resource pack, manual and joining instructions are available on registration.

Loaded with learning and fun, this course is MUST for any new paddler or Kayakers wishing to re-visit skills.

Novice paddlers who just want a "taster" of Sea Kayaking can sign up for the first day only (Paddle Canada Basic) and receive a 30% discount. Must email for coupon code.

  • Dates for Spring 2026

    May 2&3 / 16th&17th / 23rd&24th
    June 13th&1 4th

    What's Included;
    -Instruction delivered by a certified Paddle Canada Instructor
    -Choice of NDK Sea Kayak, Safety Gear & Paddles
    -Wetsuits are provided free of charge for ALL Level 1 Skills courses.
    - Drysuits are provided free of charge from November 1st- May 1st
    -Paddle Canada Certification

    What's Not Included
    -Lunch, snacks and drinks
    - Personal warm clothing for under immersion gear
    -sunprotection, waterbottles, hat, sunscreen
    - Camera
    - Drybags

    $375 (plus GST & Service fee)

    Cancellation: Blue Dog Kayaking requires full payment in advance for all Level 1 skills courses.
No refund will be given if cancelled with less than 14 days notice.
Full refund will be made if cancelled with more than 14 days notice. We will do our best to shift you to another date within the 14 days, however this is based on course availability.

Book Mill Bay
Kayakers on the ocean near rocky formations with waves splashing, mountain range with clouds and mist in the background

Intermediate Sea Kayak Program

This program is designed for paddlers who are looking to expand their skills and knowledge in more dynamic conditions. The focus of this program is challenging your current skills, building new ones and developing a level of confidence and ability that will allow you to paddle on longer trips, explore further away from calm waters and wanting to push your limits further. These programs include Paddle Canada L2 or L3 certification.

Blue Dog Kayaking offers intermediate paddlers unprecedented choice and flexibility with our L2/L3 skills program. More courses, more choice! Now you are ready to move into more adventurous environments. Refresh and advance your paddling and rescue skills, learn about weather, tides, currents and seamanship before heading out around the coast.

Standard L2 Program
Our intermediate program, includes a multiday trip with a minimum of three nights camping. This program is also a certified Paddle Canada L2 skills.
Level 2 - FLEX
Flex skills provides. flexibility for those participants that would like to upskill without the requirement for camping. This program can be completed in 4+  full days from our Port Sidney Location, from Discovery Island Lodge on Quadra or Broken Islands Lodge in Barkley Sound.
* Paddle Canada L1 skills or equivalent skills required
Level 3 Program
This program is on the top of of the intermediate programs where paddlers are proficient in their skills, and challenging themselves in more dynamic conditions, and consistently rolling at this level. Not to mention this program also has a strong leadership, judgement and expedition behavior components.
*Paddle Canada L2 skills or equivalent skills required, as well as a consistent roll.

  • This is a Paddle Canada L2 program, bare bones.

    Bare Bones: participants provide their own meals, stoves and cooking equipment. We provide one group tarp, water filter and water droms.

    Experience unspoiled sandy beaches, an abundance of marine, bird & intertidal life, paddle around sea stacks & sea caves, camp on a secluded beach surrounded by dense coastal bush, and witness amazing sunsets. Nuchatlitz Provincial Park encompasses the very northwest tip of Nootka Island and a large number of small island groups.  

    We start the expedition launching from Little Espinosa (near Zeballos) and journey to the Islands on the north tip of Nootka Island. From here, we continue amongst the maze of islets and reefs, exploring the intertidal life. Our expedition takes us into the beautiful Nuchatlitz Inlet and Mary’s Basin, a protected waterway with sandy camping beaches and wonderful waterfalls. These remote islands offer both exposed coast and protected waters for paddling, providing an excellent location for this instructional expedition. 

    Skill Level: (Paddle Canada Level 2 Certification)  

    This expedition is suitable for paddlers who are ready to challenge the Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills curriculum and those who wish to refine and refresh their current PC L2  or equivalent skills.  Participants are to be proficient but not highly-skilled paddlers, you should be familiar with the core paddling strokes and able to perform a wet exit and rescues if required. We could be exposed to wind, waves and open swell on this trip. Participants should have prior experience on day trips or short multi-day journeys and should be comfortable with:
    - Paddling distances of 10–12 nautical miles per day (3nm per hour) 
    - Launching and landing through small surf.
    - Performing self- and assisted rescues in calm to moderate conditions.
    - Camping for several nights on remote beaches 

    This trip emphasizes both travel and skill progression, making it an excellent choice for paddlers looking to build confidence for longer expeditions like Kyuquot/Bunsby’s and Cape Scott.

    $1500 (+tax)

L2 Nuchatlitz

  • Please email amber@bluedogkayaking.com to inquire about the private programing for this program. A minimum of 4 participants are required for this to run.

    Booking Terms

A kayak tipped over in the water near rocks, with waves splashing around on a cloudy day.
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Advanced Sea Kayak Program

This program is designed to challenge your paddling abilities, to take you into some of the most dynamic conditions you may encounter and test your trip planning abilities. This program consists of two locations, one including currents and another open coast with surf and challenging landings.
This program includes a Paddle Canada L4 certification taught by Amber Champion

  • The advanced program is the top end of the development program. This dual location course will find the best (and worst) conditions to test your ability and provide the skills and knowledge required for sea kayak multi-day trips along an open coast with infrequent landing opportunities in rough conditions.

    By the time you join this course you're already an accomplished paddler, you can handle your kayak in a variety of conditions, however, your skill improvement at this level is small and you won't see the same advances that you experienced on other programs. This is designed to refine existing skills and “question” preconceived notions about sea kayaking. On this program everyone is challenged to contribute to the group’s learning. The focus is on expedition behavior as a paddling group of peers; group management, judgement and mutual safety in an exciting and challenging environment.

    Effective and reliable rescues are crucial to success at this level and you will need to demonstrate the ability to adapt to different situations. Trip planning and a practical test of navigation skills will form part of the assessment; a written test will include knowledge of weather and general seamanship.

    What’s Included:
    - Paddle Canada L4 certification
    - Experienced & certified instructors who are familiar with the areas.
    - Group Tarp
    - Water Droms
    - Breakfast and Dinners while at the lodge
    - 4:1 minimum participant to Instructor ratio

    What’s NOT included:
    - Group meals while on expedition
    - Lunches for entire program
    - Transportation to the Lodge & between locations
    - Parking/camping fees while on trip
    - Personal snacks and drinks.
    - Personal communication devices (VHF, Inreach, etc)
    - Personal first Aid Kit
    - Mini Repair kit (for your own boat and scenarios)
    - Chart

    Available for Rent:
    - Fiberglass, skegged Nigel Denis Kayak (NDK), and safety gear
    - Drysuit
    - Carbon Paddle (Euro or Greenland)
    - Helmet
    - Camping Equipment (tent, mat, sleeping bag)

    * please select rental add ons at checkout.

    April 11-13th Discovery Island Lodge
    April 14th-17th Vargas Island.

    $1350 (plus GST & Service fee)

    Booking Terms

A person kayaking through a narrow natural waterway with large rocks and green trees overhead.

Private Programming

Our company thrives on providing the best sea kayak instruction, and coaching. Safety, creating challenging environments, fun and adventure are at the forefront of our programs. Meeting paddlers where they’re at and faciliatting learning to get them to where they would like to be, filling in the learning gaps along the way. Our private programming includes anything from skills refreshers to extended expeditions (certification or not). This programming requires a minimum of 4 participants and a maximum of 8.

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