Nice to meet you!

My name is Naomi and I am the owner and operator of Naomi Paddles.

I am a lifelong outdoor enthusiast with a passion for kayaking. I am a SKGABC certified sea kayak guide and have paddled for 30+ years primarily on the West Coast of Canada and the Kootenays. I also love to paddle when traveling internationally.

I was born and raised in the Kootenay region of British Columbia and moved to the West Coast for post secondary education where I fell in love with sea kayaking and sailing. I returned to the mountains in 2021 and have been exploring the area by kayak ever since.

From the comfort of my kayak, I photograph the beauty all around me, and I especially love writing about kayaking! I share my love of the Kootenays by actively promoting tourism in the region and contributing to local newspapers and tourism social media campaigns. I was also recently featured by the Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association’s in their Birthplace of Adventure series as a “Kootenay Legend”!

I paddle year round both on the inland lakes and waters surrounding Vancouver Island. I also offer personalized kayak tours on the Arrow Lakes and associated rentals of performance sea kayaks to experienced paddlers.