Coming from the Prairies, I can say there is something fully visceral about being by the ocean. It not only offers a dazzling expanse to look out at, dappled with light beams and sea creatures breaching; there's the steady crash of waves that calms a riddled mind, the scent – and taste – of salt and seaweed, the shocking cold that snaps one into presence.
Living mere blocks away from Gonzales Beach, I question if, between the apps and screen time, the downtown events or up-Island trips, I spend enough time embracing the experience so close at hand.
That got me thinking – what are ways to embrace ocean living? I connected with some locals to find out their stories; what living by the ocean means to them, and how they make the most of it, whether that be activities on the water, finding peaceful spots, or keeping their shared sanctuary clean, one bucket at a time.
Paddleboarding: A way to connect with "all the life around here"
For Linda Coggins, who only moved to Greater Victoria seven years ago, paddleboarding was one of the first ways she truly connected with the ocean, she explained in a past interview.
"It's been a very opening experience for me," she said. "I'd only connected with the ocean on vacation before, but it wasn't very meaningful. This made it accessible. You think about the relationship between the water and all the life around here."
Coggins' first paddle was with Mer Tales Ocean Journeys. Owned by marine biologist Gina, it offers several summer experiences that usually depart from Gonzales Bay.
Group paddles – with costs beginning at $45, or $65 including board/equipment – include the meditative Women on the Water (Wednesdays at 7 a.m.) and Moon Ceremony, plus more education-based forays like the Kelp Float, Bioluminescence and Marine Ecological tours, where Gina's enlightened expertise shines.
Annette Ruitenbeek, a past paddler with Mer Tales, said the groups share "really meaningful experiences" on the water. Once, she was captivated when a group of whales came under her paddleboard.
Powerful experiences like that prompt her to reflect on the wonder of the sea and her relationship to it.
"It made me think, do I feel vulnerable on the ocean, or strong? Do I feel one with the ocean, or do I feel alien? When I catch myself asking questions like that, I realize it's why having a community is so great."
Finding tranquility at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel
One can be active on the ocean, or one can find tranquility beside it.
Perhaps no better place to find a peaceful haven is Oak Bay Beach Hotel's spa with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. It's a hot spot for visitors and locals alike thanks to a heated outdoor mineral pool, hot tubs, outdoor fireplaces and lounge chairs, all nestled among purple heather at water's edge with Mount Baker in the distance.
In June, the experience expands with two new cold plunge pools, offering a comprehensive hydrotherapy circuit that improves circulation, muscle relaxation, and detoxification – basically, the definition of the word "sigh".
Additionally, a new custom-built cedar Stargazing Sauna by WildWood Saunas accommodates up to 10 guests. It offers sweeping 180-degree views of the sea – and the sky, thanks to a magical glass ceiling.
“The space is spectacular,” said Kerry Hittinger, the hotel's marketing specialist. “During the day, it’s filled with natural light and panoramic views of the Pacific. At night, it transforms into something truly magical, where you can lie back and observe a sky full of stars. It’s both grounding and awe-inspiring.”
Access to the sauna is available to registered hotel guests, spa clients and pool pass guests, depending on daily capacity.
Hittinger said it's all part of the hotel's desire to give visitors what they crave: a reprieve in nature that is also tied to the unique landscape of Oak Bay.
"Guests are increasingly seeking travel experiences that support rest, recovery and reconnection with themselves and with nature," she said.
Residents rally for conservation
When Oak Bay resident Andrew Jackson moved to the area from Ontario, he said he pinched himself over how "lucky" he was that he got to live in such a beautiful area. Gonzales Beach has become a daily anchoring space of rejuvenation, where he paddles five or six days a week in the summer and where his daily dog walks bring neighbourhood connections. All of the meaning and beauty the beach offers motivates him to protect it.
"We enjoy and get so much from the powerful medicine that nature is. I'm certainly motivated to be good to Mother Nature, because she'll be good to you, too," he said.
After several derelict boats littering the beach in the past two years rallied neighbours together in clean-up efforts, Jackson said he realized how much stewardship locals feel over its waters and how rewarding it is to be part of that.
"The people really care for the beach and feel obliged to look after it as much as possible," he said. "Everyone who uses the beach, from little talks to people in their last days, or all the dogs, to have a polluted environment, it just takes it away ... I tip my hat to them because they got things done."
Jackson said he is inspired to do his own clean-up efforts, thanks to a woman he sees who "walks around with a red bucket and fills it with little bits of plastic."
She's part of a community of neighbours that he describes as "resourceful, eclectic, interesting and amazing."
The Ontario native says he still pinches himself over living by Gonzales Beach, and it's a sentiment that resonates with a lot of locals.
There are so many ways to appreciate and connect with the sea (like sailing lessons, kayaking, or just finding your favourite view), and as summer approaches, it can be worth exploring what coastal living means to you and to make the most of it. Some, like Jackson, seem to have really learned the art of that.
"It's an essential part of our lives, almost," he said. "It's kind of an anchoring point for the community. We all have that common bond."
