Paddle West Guides’ Standards
and Training
Paddle West Kayaking hires a fantastic crew of guides each season. All guides come from different backgrounds forming a fantastic community to grow as guides and constantly learn new things. We all have one thing in common though — each and everyone of us loves the West Coast of Vancouver Island and is eager to share our knowledge on the natural and cultural history of the area. In addition to our passion for Tofino, Ucluelet and the West Coast of Vancouver Island, all Paddle West Kayaking guides are Sea Kayak Guides Alliance of British Columbia (SKGABC) certified or have an equivalent level of certification.
In order to day guide in Tofino a guide must:
- Maintain current certification in a minimum 16-hour basic First-Aid course
- Maintain current certification of CPR (level C)
- Possess a Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime) for VHF radio
- Have completed an SKGABC accredited, on the water level 1 course and passed a written exam
In addition to the formal certifications required, Paddle West guides recieve extensive in-house training and shadow an experienced guide before being allowed to guide on their own.