The Gulf Islands are well known for low rainfall and mild conditions due to the shelter of Vancouver Island, with warmer waters and calmer conditions than the ocean. Although the paddling season is generally considered to be May through September, those who live in the Gulf Islands take advantage of generally mild weather to paddle year round, whenever the sun shines and the schedule allows. The close proximity of land, short crossings, and nearby services make for safe paddling. The other concern is the amount of small boat and ferry traffic. Due to the low visibility of kayaks, it is advisable to paddle as we should drive defensively.
Some paddlers choose to mount a bicycle-type flag from a short mast to enhance visibility.
BC Ferries vessels travel up to 20 knots and can pose a real danger to inexperienced paddlers. Remember that large objects appear to be moving more slowly than they really are, and that large vessels have very limited ability to maneuver. For tide information within the Gulf Islands, use the Fulford Harbour table from the Canadian Hydrographic Tide Tables. If you re traveling on the open east side of the islands in Georgia Strait, use the Point Atkinson table. Code of Ethics Paddlers are strongly discouraged from having fires, and fires are in fact prohibited at certain Marine Trail sites in summer.