Paddle Canada Level 2 - 100 Wild Islands, Nova Scotia

Sept 18 - 21

$1,095.00

Paddle Canada Level 2 - 100 Wild Islands, Nova Scotia

$1,095.00

Need a payment plan? Email aaron@kayakmaritimes.com and we will set up payments.

This is an intermediate course set in the 100 Wild Islands on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. It takes you from beginner to proficient sea kayaker in a true coastal environment. We run it from a base camp at Norse Cove, and the base camp is included in the price.

Expect full days of hands-on learning with evening theory sessions. You work through real scenarios in on-water rescues, seamanship and navigation, and you refine your paddling and build your leadership along the way. By the end you can plan and prepare your own overnight trips with friends.

Paddle Canada Level 2 in the 100 Wild Islands

4Days

100 Wild IslandsNova Scotia

Base CampIncluded

RentalsAvailable

Your Certification

This course is the Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2, the national certification for coastal touring in Class 2 conditions. Every item in the syllabus is covered across the four days, and if you meet the assessment criteria during the course, you earn it.

What You'll Learn

Full days of hands-on training with evening sessions on theory. Four skill domains across four days of coastal touring.

Navigation & Seamanship

Navigate coastal waters, handle tides and currents, and build the judgment that separates touring paddlers from people in kayaks.

→ Chart reading and route planning
→ Compass navigation and bearings
→ Piloting: handrails, backstops, aiming off, deduced reckoning
→ Environmental reading: wind, current, swell
→ Introduction to tides and currents
→ Crossing strategies and group management
→ Collision regulations as they apply to kayakers

Knots, Tarps & Expedition Behaviour

The camp and group management skills needed for extended kayaking trips, the stuff that separates a day paddle from an expedition.

→ Key knots for rigging and rescue
→ Tarp setups for coastal camping
→ Setting up an emergency overnight
→ Expedition behaviour and group dynamics
→ Loading, launching, and landing in conditions
→ Transport Canada requirements, and what to carry beyond them

Risk Management & Weather

Assess risk, predict weather patterns, and make decisions that keep the group moving safely when conditions shift.

→ Marine weather forecasting and interpretation
→ Risk assessment frameworks for trip leaders
→ Leading peers and decision-making under uncertainty
→ Emergency planning, evacuation, and contingencies
→ VHF, PLBs, satellite messengers, and what each is for
→ Hypothermia and hyperthermia: signs, treatment, prevention

Boat Handling & Rescues

Advanced strokes, towing techniques, and on-water rescues, refined under real coastal conditions with semi-loaded boats.

→ Level 2 stroke refinement and power transfer
→ Bow rudders, brace turns, draws, and stern rudders
→ Towing setup and techniques
→ Assisted, self and all-in rescues in conditions
→ Getting a swimmer to shore on your bow or stern
→ Rescue scenarios: seasickness, injury, hypothermia, leaky boats
→ Introduction to rolling

Sample Instructional Progression

Curriculum focus and locations may shift based on weather and conditions. That flexibility is part of the learning.

Day 1, Norse Cove

Safety debrief, skill reviews, and Level 2 rescue exercises.

Day 2, Ship Harbour

Navigation, seamanship and weather forecasting.

Day 3, Owl's Head

Coastal touring, kayak handling with Level 2 strokes and towing introduction.

Day 4, Taylor's Head

Rescue and towing scenarios, rolling and course wrap-up.

Built for Lifelong Learning

Every Kayak Maritimes course includes access to your personal online learning dashboard, a hybrid system offering clear preparation before the course, structured learning on the water, and continued support afterward. Track your progress, complete short modules on preparation, gear, safety, and theory, and return any time to review lessons.

★ Online learning dashboard access is included with your course
★ Full-colour Kayak Maritimes Course Manual available as an add-on: take it to the shoreline, mark it up with notes, and keep it as a lasting reference

What's Included

✔ Four full days of on-water training plus evening theory sessions
✔ Four nights of camping at the base camp
✔ Online learning dashboard access
✔ Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2 assessment and certification

Available to Add

— Kayak rental: available if you need a boat. Own your boat? Bring it.
— Drysuit rental: available if you need one
— Course manual: full-colour workbook that mirrors your course lessons, with step-by-step skill breakdowns, diagrams and practical tips
— Safety gear: pump, whistle, and 15 metre floating rope available for purchase
— Camping gear: some rental camping gear available if needed

Good to Know

— Meals are your own, so bring your own food. We visit local pubs and food trucks when time permits, and camp cooking is part of the experience.
— You are responsible for parking permits at launch sites.
— The course runs rain or shine, though we reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms.
— You train with paddlers at a similar level, with plenty of chances to share experiences and learn together.

Equipment Needed

Don't own a full kit? No problem. Rentals are available for the essentials.

✔ Sea kayak: with two bulkheads
Rentals available
✔ Drysuit
Available to rent
✔ Safety gear: pump, whistle, 15 metre floating rope
Available for purchase
✔ Camping gear: tent, sleeping bag and essentials for four nights
Some rentals available

Prerequisite: Level 1 or an equivalent certification. You should be comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water. Not sure? Get in touch and we'll point you in the right direction.

After your Level 2 → Keep building with Level 3 preparation in the 100 Wild Islands or Tidal Mission: Pembrokeshire. Your coaches already know your abilities, so the progression is seamless.

Questions

Do I need my own kayak or gear?

Not all of it. Kayak and drysuit rentals are available, and so is some rental camping gear. Safety gear (pump, whistle, 15 metre floating rope) is available for purchase.

What certification do I get?

Paddle Canada Sea Kayak Level 2. The course is built and assessed to that standard, and if you meet the assessment criteria during the course, you receive your certification. If you have outstanding items to clear, we'll work with you on a plan to complete them.

Do I have to roll?

No. Paddle Canada introduces rolling at Level 2 rather than testing it. You'll learn the body mechanics, try the components with an instructor beside you, and leave knowing how to go get a reliable roll. It becomes a requirement at Level 3, so it's worth starting now.

Can I use a paddle float for re-entries?

Yes, and you don't need permission. Paddle Canada is explicit that re-entry aids like paddle floats and stirrups are welcome and encouraged at any level, and using one doesn't prevent you passing. It just has to be used competently. Bodies are different sizes and shapes, and the goal is getting back in the boat.

Where do participants stay?

At the base camp at Norse Cove. Four nights of camping are included in the price. Bring your own camping gear. Some rental camping gear is available if you need it.

How does food work?

Meals are your own, so bring your own food. We visit local pubs and food trucks when time permits, and camp cooking is part of the experience.

What if the weather is bad?

The course runs rain or shine, and paddling in varied conditions is part of the learning. Level 2 is a Class 2 certification, so a bit of wind is the assessment rather than a problem. We move locations to find the right water. We only reschedule for prolonged thunderstorms or conditions that pose a genuine safety risk.

I did my Level 1 a while ago. Am I ready?

If you're comfortable with wet exits, basic re-entries, and a full day on the water, you're ready. Not sure? Get in touch and we'll help you assess.

Can I take my Level 2 somewhere else?

Yes. We also run Level 2 on Prince Edward Island in early August.

What's the online learning dashboard?

Our online learning system with structured modules covering preparation, gear, safety, navigation theory, and more. Access is included with your course, and it extends your learning before, during, and long after the on-water days.

We acknowledge that this course takes place in Mi'kma'ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq People. These lands and waters are governed by Peace and Friendship Treaties. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, paddle, and share knowledge here, and we remain committed to contributing to Indigenous-led organizations that sustain and protect these waters.