It was a workday like any other for Hailey McIntyre and Ocean Rutherford of SAAM Towage when they set off up the coast on their tugboat. However, the 3-day trip from Prince Rupert, BC, to Stewart, BC, to assist in docking and undocking a ship became the first all-female tugboat crew in the over 70-year history of their company.   Growing up in Prince Rupert and attending elementary school together, Hailey and Ocean kept in touch over the years, especially once they ended up on the same career path.   "We'd always check in with each other throughout our careers over the last ten years ..read more

"I'm surprised none of us died," says Ryan Cameron. He, his brother Caleb, and three other siblings were brought up aboard their family's salmon troller. At six years old, while his peers entered the school system, Ryan was entrusted with a razor-sharp fillet knife on the slippery decks and rough waters of the Pacific Northwest. Now, as he and Caleb own Cameron Ocean Adventures in Ucluelet, British Columbia, and are raising their own families, they recall the ups and downs of their unconventional childhood.   Their father, Don, was a polarizing figure in their community who thrived i ..read more

In the vast expanse of the Atlantic, a group of dedicated biologists—the Whale Research Collective (WRC)—seek to unravel the mysteries of marine mammals and fill the gaps in our understanding of these majestic creatures. Comprised of six skilled members with decades of combined experience, their expertise spans population dynamics, bioacoustics, foraging ecology, habitat use, migration patterns, and social structures.  The WRC, a non-profit organization, was born out of a shared vision to conduct impactful research, mainly focusing on Canadian waters. The diverse backgrounds of its member ..read more

"I was thinking we're all gonna die," says 12-year-old Brayden Taylor.  Plans for a sunny day fishing off the coast of Amelia Island, Florida took a wild turn for Brayden, his grandpa Jamie Deonas, and a friend when a sudden storm hit. In the blink of an eye, they found themselves fighting to stay afloat as water flooded their vessel.   Putting on their PFDs—which had arrived just the day before—prior to the boat capsizing, saved their lives as they spent two hours in the water while three storms pummeled them before being rescued.  STAY SAFE, SHOP FLOTATION     For Jamie ..read more

From fearless sailors to workboat drivers, marine scientists, and daring explorers—join us in celebrating the Women Who Ignited our Marine Journeys this Mother’s Day.  You don't have to look far these days to find inspiring women on the water. From people like Moira Brown, a Canadian scientist doing vital marine life conservation work, and Cole Brauer, who just became the first American woman to race solo, nonstop around the world, to—and perhaps most importantly—the women in our families, workplaces, and communities, we are surrounded by those who thrive beyond land.  For some of us ..read more

I spend my days summering in the polar regions. My year is split mainly between the Arctic—where my heart belongs, and Antarctica. I work as an expedition leader and guide for tourism, film production and research projects. What I do professionally is a lifestyle choice, if not somewhat of an addiction, and I am privileged to spend my days experiencing and documenting some of the most remote environments on earth.   Through my work, I have witnessed dramatic environmental changes in a short time. I have observed massive sections of ice calving off glacier fronts into the ocean with highe ..read more

The winters in Bamfield during my childhood were harsh. A small fishing village on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, we rarely saw snow but experienced winter storms in the form of unrelenting rain and wind. The days were short and dreary. I left for school in the dark, the first one on board since my dad was the school boat driver and arrived home at dusk. While other kids hoped for snow days, we hoped the inlet would freeze and prevent us from going to school.    Storms brought their share of hazards. One early morning, as my mom headed to work, her outboard unexpectedly ran atop ..read more

The annual World's Toughest Row (formerly the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge,) held in early December, serves as a testament to human endurance, camaraderie, and an unrelenting quest for adventure. Participants come together with a singular objective: to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a rowboat. This remarkable race is not only a test of physical strength and mental fortitude but also fosters lifelong friendships and creates unforgettable experiences.  Each team embarking on this journey will row 4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles) from Spain to Antigua, putting in more than 1.5 million oar s ..read more

"A happy accident" is how Craig Sawyer and Scott 'Skip' Innes describe the events that led to their 1000-mile paddle through the remote wilderness of northern Canada. A chat about wanting to do something together—"but nothing extreme"—and a Google search at a local pub ended with completing an application for the world's longest unsupported survival paddle race. They didn't necessarily believe they would survive the Yukon 1000's rigorous selection process, but, as they would find out, being chosen was the least of the challenges between them and the finish line.     Training Pad ..read more

Over the last nearly seven decades, CAL FIRE—tasked initially with protecting wildlands—has delved into the world of rescue work while expanding to protect large cities and counties. The organization has an incredibly diverse mission and employs over 11,000 people statewide in California; 4000 people can be assigned to one wildland fire. Recognized as leaders in incident management and disaster recovery, their teams have been involved in every major disaster in California and have travelled to other states needing help.   Operations Section Chief Sean Norman discusses the dynamic nature o ..read more