Nature Photography by Martin Ryer

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As the west coast of British Columbia and Vancouver Island gets battered by the remnants of Typhoon Songda I know this might seem like an odd time to talk about sea kayaking. But, if I can’t be paddling, why not think and talk about it right? In July of 2015 I purchased a Werner Cyprus paddle from Comox Valley Kayaks for about $600.00 and I must say, though expensive this was a… Read More

As I become more and more experienced with sea kayaking I find the more and more I deviate from the routing as outlined in my float plan. To quote Robert Burns, “the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray.” This was the case recently during my week paddling in The Broken Group Islands. The inherent risks associated with the on water conditions though, should and will warrant a deviation from… Read More

In July of 2013 I paddled from Tofino and made my base camp at Blunden Island. The following morning I set out to paddle across to Vargas Island. The crossing is only 2 km at best and conditions were calm. The goal was to photograph the Wolves on Vargas Island and because the crossing was minimal I only brought along a few provisions, minimal food, a little bit of water and that… Read More

Luckiest Man in the Pacific! June 5th, 2013 Last week, Comox Valley photographer Martin Ryer (www.mryer.com) found himself stuck on Spring Island without a paddle. His boat and the driftwood it was tied to floated off in the night. He found his boat down the beach, but lost his paddle. He then scoured the island for a solution (while enjoying the sights) and found our camp and an old canoe paddle stashed… Read More

The Broken Group is a group of small islands and islets in the middle of Barkley Sound on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The group is protected as the Broken Islands Group Unit of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The group lies between Imperial Eagle and Loudon Channels and includes Brabant Islands, Hand Island, but not Pinkerton Islands. The southernmost of the group is Cree Island, the… Read More

Much thanks and appreciation to Tofino Sea Kayaking Company http://tofinoseakayaking.com/ for the Meares Island Trees and Shores tour on June 29th. Our guides, Arv and Aaron (spelling?) were very informative and true patrons of Clayoquot Sound. 

The MSR Pocket Rocket is a must have for any expedition kayaking or back packing enthusiast, check out the video and other online reviews and go out and buy yours today! 

My most sincere thanks to Nova Scotia artist, painter and friend Wendy Crocker for our commission. Her chosen title “Elements” is reflected well in the synonyms of the word – aspect, detail, matter and principal all of which I pondered during this very moment in July of 2013 on Vargas Island in Clayoquot Sound. After being wind and ocean swept while kayaking I was stranded for the night on this remote island… Read More

The Evening Before the Launch  I spent the evening before my launch at the Dolphin Motel just outside Tofino. As always it was a pleasant stay and I enjoyed the interaction with one of the owners, “The Dolphin lady.” I’ve stayed at the Dolphin Motel several times now and I still don’t know her name. I’ve just always called her “Dolphin” and so we’ll go with that. Anyone that has stayed here,… Read More

  Much thanks to the staff at Comox Valley Kayaks – Lauren LaBossiere and Gabriela Brunschwiler for helping me achieve my Paddle Canada Basic Sea Kayak Skills certification and for sharing their expert knowledge and experience. I look forward to more training next year but for now I’ll take what I’ve learned to the misty and windswept coastline of Vancouver Island.