An instructor and a student paddling stand-up paddle boards on the Bay off Crane Cove Park, with a kayaker and the Bay Bridge behind them

Level up skills or explore the Bay

Kayak & paddle board lessons & tours

Learn fast and explore farther with expert instructors at Crane Cove Park.

With equipment$124

Bring your ownfrom $69

RunsWeekends

Privatefrom $249

Lessons start in protected water at Crane Cove and build real on-the-bay skills: stance and balance, efficient strokes, turning and control. Tours go further, with a guide who knows the water.

Learn

Never done it, or want a coach watching your stroke. Start here.

Prices are per person. The lesson is $124 with our board, $99 with your own. Private is priced by group size: $249 for one, then $185, $170, $160 and $150 each for two to five.

Good to know

What’s includedBoard or kayak, paddle and PFD (life vest), with a SUP leash provided. An on-land briefing and on-water coaching, small groups, lockers for small items and a changing room on site.
Do I need experience for the Saturday 11:00am Bay tour?In a kayak, no. Sit-on-top kayaks are stable, we teach you the basics at the start, and you only need to be fit enough to stay with the group. On a paddle board, yes: take the Saturday 9:00am Learn to paddle board lesson first. Balancing on a board in Bay chop is not something to pick up while a group is moving, so we do not put first-time boarders on the tour.
Which one is right for me?Brand new to paddle boarding? Start with the Saturday 9:00am lesson. New to kayaking? The Saturday 11:00am Bay tour is a fine option, we will teach you the basics and you can practise, as long as you are fit enough to stay with the group. Paddled before? The full moon paddle, which needs experience. Ready for more? The Bay Bridge tour, which needs experience and the right conditions, or a private lesson for targeted coaching.
How long are they?The intro lesson and the Bay tour run 90 minutes. The full moon paddle is 60 minutes. The Bay Bridge tour is 2 hours and covers the most distance.
Where we’ll goWe start in the protected water at Crane Cove for skills and warm-up, then cruise mellow routes. Favourites include Mission Creek for a calm, city-meets-nature loop, and Bay Bridge views for longer glides when conditions permit. More ideas on Paddling the Bay.
What should I wear?Dress for a light splash and the breeze - athletic layers, sunscreen, hat and sunglasses with a retainer, optional water shoes or sandals, and bring water. Full tips in Preparing to Paddle.
Age requirementsLessons and tours start at 10 with a parent or guardian along, and at 13 on your own. Younger paddlers can book a private lesson or tour with family, or join a youth camp. Rentals run to lower minimums, from 7 in a tandem kayak with an adult - the full table is on the rentals page.
Are reservations required?Yes. We often cut off registration 12 to 24 hours before the start time because we need to coordinate staffing and equipment. Walk-ins are rarely available for lessons and tours.
Wind, weather & safetyWe monitor conditions all day. Mornings are typically lighter; afternoons can breeze up. We may adjust routes or reschedule if it isn’t safe. PFDs are required and SUP leashes are provided. Your instructor keeps the group tight and the vibe relaxed.
Are pets allowed?For safety and focus, pets aren’t allowed on lessons or tours. Want to bring your dog? Check out our rentals on mellow days instead.

Before you go

Where we take you

The routes your instructor picks from are all on the map, from the warm-up inside Crane Cove to the longer glides towards the Bay Bridge.

Open the map

Before you launch

Plan your paddle around the current

Tell it when you want to get on the water and when you want to be back. It reads the Potrero Point predictions and tells you which way to head first.

News from the water

Twice a month: what is on at Crane Cove and Mission Creek, and what is coming up next.

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