About Us
Residents of Port Hardy for 33 years, owner/operators Pat & Jackie Kervin, bring more than 60 years of knowledge of Northern Vancouver Island and experience to the North Island Dive and Kayak Center.
We officially opened up our kayaking business in 1996 as Odyssey Kayaking and are connected to the communities we work in on many levels. The name ODYSSEY was created from our favourite expression "AH! de sea!". Outgrowing our 16' fibreglass squareback canoe, and 18' aluminum outboard powered boat, we moved into kayaking as a sustainable family activity. Being close to the water and able to access this recreation buffet has been the focus of countless family activities. Wilderness camping and trekking in and around Northern Vancouver Island, has allowed us a familiarity with a lot of exciting new discoveries. After more than 37 years of living on Northern Vancouver Island, the sight of the pristine wilderness re-impresses us.
Pat has taken several guiding courses, NAUI diving certification, Advanced Wilderness First Aid and as well is licensed to operate up to a 12 passenger water taxi. He enjoys instructing people in kayaking, especially when it comes to emphasizing the safe enjoyment of it, and the appreciation of the local habitat. He has experienced this vast playground from as far away as the Queen Charlottes down to Vancouver. Jackie enjoys being at home and loves the administration part of the business. Both look forward to meeting you and can share some great experiences and ideas when talking about Port Hardy and the surrounding area.Perhaps more than all of this, Pat and Jackie are dedicated to facilitating your experience of adventure in a supportive, challenging, and rewarding environment of respect and safety.
Why kayak or dive Northern Vancouver Island and Queen Charlotte Strait?
Northern Vancouver Island is one of the last frontiers of "Wild West Coast BC" that is easily accessible to you the visitor. The Inside Passage is world renowned for incredible kayaking, diving, camping, scenery and wildlife.
Located on the NE coast of Vancouver Island, the Queen Charlotte Strait area is home to one of the largest Resident Orca (killer whale) populations in the world. Each year the Resident Orcas return to this area from the North following the supply of wild salmon making their way to their spawning rivers. Congregating at times in Johnstone Strait the numbers increase as salmon bunch up while heading south. The different Orcas and respective pods are easily recognized by their distinctive black and white markings. Throughout the salmon season they move around where the salmon are the most plentiful and for a short time they will come together in various places in what is known as super pods for mating and socializing.
Because of our diverse ocean bio-systems, many forms of marine wildlife, birds and fish species are abundant in these waters, making viewing of all creatures an ever-changing daily experience. Grey whales, minke whales, humpback whales, dolphins, porpoise and many other mammals frequently call these waters "home". Because of this vast area of Northern Vancouver Island including Queen Charlotte Strait and the surrounding area to the West and the North, it is all the more reason to kayak and dive our well kept secrets. Many thousands of tourists converge on Johnstone Strait each year primarily to get a glimpse of Orcas, at times you might feel that you are in a race to close the distance to put yourself in good photo distance of a feeding pod of Orcas. There is no experience in the world like being alone with your friends in Queen Charlotte Strait in the middle of a resident pod of Orcas not in a hurry to go anywhere. Savor the solitude of the raw sustainable beauty of Queen Charlotte Strait. Exciting memories are yours to choose.
| News | |
| New for 2005 | We have relocated to the downtown location of 8625 SHIPLEY St. This will help take away the pressure from our "home based 80 boat fleet", while continuing to evolve into a better, more accessible client oriented service. Stop by for a chat, and get acquainted with what Northern Vancouver Island has to offer. We continue to offer free parking for the ninth year to our clients which is especially convenient for those launching at the nearby beach. |
| New for 2006 | We are continuing to improve our new facilities in 2006 to create a smoother transition for you from land to water, and to help you appreciate the positive experience of being in the North Island. Parking has been a big hit but sometimes overwhelming as the cars appear to out number kayaks. |
| New for 2007 | We have installed a SCUBA compressor to provide air to a couple of commercial dive companies. To keep ourselves busy as well as generate income over the winter we have also taken on kayak repairs. To date we have done repairs on 11 doubles and five singles. A lot have been major repairs. Ten years of free parking has come to an end, and now we are charging $5 per day or $25 per week. This has helped cut down on the used car look of Odyssey Kayaking during peak season, and compensated for some of the work of moving vehicles around. |
| New for 2008 | We have been operating our dive compressor for a year now, and built an air storage facility to offer air fill sales to the visiting diver as well. We are now in the process of installing a second compressor and as well, a nitrox blending setup. This gives diversity to Odyssey Kayaking. In line with kayaking our kayak repairs over the winter have been very productive with everything from a simple repair to full blown restorations. It keeps us busy and off the streets. |
| New for 2009 | Our second compressor is up and running, which is a huge relief to have a reliable backup compressor. The nitrox setup should be completed by the end of March. We have been busier than expected with the Air Filling and have passed all our testing with flying colors. Also new in 2009 has been the establishment of a new business operating name. We have decided to make our presence more noticeable on the web with “North Island Dive and Kayak Center”. Joining with Odyssey Kayaking in this venture is Pat’s good friend Markus who brings a wealth of training and experience as well as two water taxis, the “MIMIR”, and the “MALEI ISLE”. We’ve worked together for many years, and taken many courses together, and felt that now was the time to better make our presence known to people looking for sustainable water based adventures on Northern Vancouver Island, BC. |