About Us
Our mission is to make Sea Kayaking & Paddleboarding accessible recreational activities for all levels of paddlers through innovative instruction & training programs with safety and enjoyment at the heart of everything we do.
The Blue Dog team are all experienced paddlers and coaches, who work to understand your needs and commit to getting it right. As a small business we strive to offer an individualized service to you, our customer and our friends. Our goal is to ensure that you will feel comfortable, confident and safe on the water while being able to push your limits, build confidence and go exploring these phenomenal places we call our backyard.
The technical stuff.
Blue Dog Kayaking has two paddling centers located at Mill Bay and Port Sidney Marinas, here we offer guided tours for kayakers and paddle boarders (SUP) plus instruction and lessons. The intermediate and advanced sea kayak training takes place on the majestic West Coast of Vancouver Island, and a bit on the East Coast.
We are also a Nigel Denis Kayak (NDK) Expedition Center, and the Canadian Dealers. We have found that the right equipment is essential in delivering confidence and safety on the water. We are also retailers of Kōkatat, Lendal North America, Celtic Paddles, Gearlab Outdoors, Level Six, Whetman Equipment and Astral (just to name a few). We can get you sorted with whatever you need, not to mention let you demo most of those products to make sure you are buying something that works for you.
Learn with Us
We offer the full range of Paddle Canada of courses for the beginner to advanced paddler. Our intro courses (Paddle Canada accredited) take places weekly at both our locations. Not to mention we also run the Paddle Canada L2 program out of our Port Sidney Location. However, most of our other L2/L3 programming is offered as multi-day expeditions on the West Coast.
New for 2023, we have decided to offer guide training! Our team has grown, and in that process we have added the ever talented Jeremy Benninger who is an exceptional paddler, and guide trainer. With years of experience under his belt, and many personal expeditions he makes the perfect guide trainer, with a focus on practical learning and relevant skills our programs will accompanied by a Paddle Canada certification that will allow guides to extend their season with instruction work, this means that your instructor team will be Jeremy and Amber Champion. Successfully candidates will walk away with an Association of Canadian Sea Kayak Guides certificate and a Paddle Canada Certificate.
Outside of our certification courses we also run instructional expeditions. These trips are unique, as we combine the adventure of a kayak expedition to various unspoiled locations such as Clayoquot, Broken Group, Nuchatlitz, Kyuquot or Great Slave Lake & combine the opportunity to learn, and focus on the skills one needs to do these trips without us. Our team is extremely passionate about paddling, and will work as hard as we can to give you the results you need and want.
Below you will get to meet some of our ever growing team. If you are looking to get more experiencing teaching or looking for a mentorship please reach out to Amber.
David Nichols
Instructor/ Guide
David is the owner of Blue Dog Kayaking and senior Instructor and Instructor trainer with Paddle Canada.
After moving to BC with his partner Alison, David discovered kayaking (initially as a way to access difficult hiking routes) however, paddling soon became his passion.
David holds; Paddle Canada Level 3 Instructor Trainer, Level 4 Instructor and Level 4 skills certification. As a professional kayak instructor he has taught hundreds courses and as a result has been instrumental in the delivery of the Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking Program on Vancouver Island"I feel very privileged to have worked with so many wonderful people helping them to achieve their individual goals in the quest to become confident, competent and safe paddlers"
Amber Champion
Sea Kayak IT/ SUP IT
Amber has been drawn to the water and outdoors from an early age. She loves discovering beautiful places and sharing that experience with others. Her passion and enthusiasm for kayaking & paddleboarding is evident when meeting her.
A graduate from Laurentian University in Outdoor Leadership Amber is the operations director and lead instructor for Blue Dog Kayaking the country’s number one provider of Paddle Canada Sea Kayaking programs.
She holds the following Paddle Canada certifications; Sea Kayaking - L3 Instructor Trainer, L4 Instructor and L4 Level skills. SUP - AFW Instructor Trainer and multi - day touring instructor, and SUP surf instructor.
Amber is a great inspiration for all female paddlers who want to progress in the world of Sea Kayaking & SUP Instruction
To contact Amber directly please email her at amber@bluedogkayaking.com
Alison Moorwood
Marketing & Advertising
Alison is a Paddle Canada SUP Flat Water Skills Instructor and also holds a Level 2 skills Kayak certification. I love all water sports but I'm particularly passionate about Stand Up Paddling. It really is a sport for everyone & I am enthusiastic to share this sport with you. Over the last few years my roll has changed, I spearhead all the meals that go on expeditions and tackle the world or advertising and marketing.
Benny
Mascot
Trying to think of a name for our new kayaking business proved to be quite a challenge. we wanted something original and fresh but also a name that represented us in some way.
So, this where Benny our Boarder Collie/ Beagle rescue pup from The Victoria Humane Society gets involved in the story. He is full of energy and bounce as well as endless affection towards his other 'fury' brothers and sisters.
With a little poetic licence and imagination the Blue Dog logo came to life; based on this photo of Benny acrylic paints were used to gain the depth of colour and definition thus completing the Blue Dog Kayaking brand.
Carmen Hawkins
Kayak & SUP Instructor/ GuideCarmen began her paddling journey with Blue Dog Kayaking after taking a Level 1 course in the wake of COVID-19. She fell in love with the sport immediately, completing Paddle Canada level 2 skills just over a month later. She jumped at the opportunity to teach with Blue Dog Kayaking when it arose. Now, she loves to share her passion with the paddling community. In particular, Carmen loves to watch paddler’s confidence grow as they learn to safely handle their kayaks on the ocean.
Carmen currently holds Paddle Canada Level 2 Skills and Instructor Level 1 certifications. She is looking forward to climbing the rest of the Paddle Canada ladder in the coming years.
Becky Moreland
Kayak & SUP Instructor/ Guide
Rebecca was introduced to the world of canoeing and kayaking at a very young age, and has participated in many kayak and canoe expeditions throughout Western Europe. She used to teach kayaking and windsurfing in the UK to youth and school groups, and then became more involved with sailing and skiing. Now, living in Canada, she has qualified as a Level 2 Paddle Canada kayak instructor and stand-up-paddle board instructor. She is passionate about teaching and enthusing others to enjoy these sports safely.
Dave Crisp
Kayak & SUP Instructor/ Guide
Dave got bitten by the kayak bug after taking a Blue Dog Level 1 skills course.
Since then his passion for the water and kayaking has exploded and he is always seeking to challenge his knowledge and experience in a variety of conditions and environments.
He thrives on working with less confident paddlers and seeing them progress and enjoy the water as much as he does.
Dave is a big advocate for safety as well as appropriate behaviours on the water and in the backcountry.
Friends of Blue Dog
Every year we get requests to support paddlers in their amazing adventures and paddling desires, as a business we decided that we would do our best to support paddlers whose goals and missions align with ours. We have had a number of amazing people receive sponsorship and do some really amazing paddling expeditions, trips and challenges. We feel that those people need to be highlighted, below you will find some past or current paddlers and their expeditions. Please give them some love and share the good news.
#1. For Fun's Sake
For Fun's Sake was a kayak expedition from Washington, USA to Alaska, USA. Chris Whittaker and Nuka De Jocas who experienced sea kayakers embarked on an expedition for the sake of an adventure. Two men in the wilderness for no other reason to be there, to experience it and have fun doing it. They had three goals; eat well, don't die and have fun. These two gentlemen caught some amazing footage on their trip and have turned that into some amazing episodes to watch for all of us. Follow this link to watch their expedition, and find out more about the inside passage.
#2. Scott Macdonald (Race to Alaska)
Scott is a frequent flyer in our Paddle Canada courses, he recently got his Paddle Canada L4 skills, with great ease. Scott is a very talented paddler, with a background as an elite athlete he is taking his paddling to the next level and racing to Alaska. This June Scott will be embarking on a 1200km race where he hopes to complete it under 20 days. Scotts drive and motivation for this race is to help raise awareness and funds for KidSport Greater Victoria. KidSport Canada is a national charitable organization that helps remove financial barriers for kids to participate in organised sports. The organization’s local chapter provides grants for children in financial need in the Greater Victoria area to participate in sports programs. If you are able to help support Scott's goals please follow this link.
If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities please send us an email for consideration.