They say the best way to get over your fears is to face them head on, so what better way for me to face my fear of flying than taking a seaplane, right? I have to admit that I was a little nervous. Ok, maybe a lot nervous. I was really glad we stopped for a little “liquid courage” first because it calmed my nerves. I’ve been on a lot of boats and a lot of planes, but combining the two seemed a little dangerous. As it turned out, I had nothing to be afraid of and I recommend it if you ever have the chance to take one.
Our Vancouver seaplane tour was an amazing experience! I honestly felt safer in our small de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver than I do most of the time in a 737. Here’s a couple of fun facts for you: The Beaver was produced from 1947-1967 and is known as one of the best “bush planes” ever built for its ability to service remote or undeveloped areas. For a smaller single-engine aircraft, it’s pretty beefy looking with it’s barrel chest and structurally solid feeling interior. I felt a little like Indiana Jones when I climbed aboard (except substitute the whip for a designer bag and you get the picture). I know, I’m so rugged!
Taking a seaplane is one of the most adventurous and adrenaline fueled things I’ve done. I’d rank it up there with cliff jumping in Greece. You know you want to do it, but it scares the crap out of you, but then again #YOLO.
How to book and what to expect
You can easily purchase your seaplane ticket online. We booked through Harbour Air Seaplanes. They can sell out quickly so you may want to plan ahead. I think we lucked out and were able to purchase our tickets the morning of, but there weren’t many time slots left.
The seaplane terminal is just like a regular airline terminal except that it’s on the water. There’s a check-in desk, a waiting area, snack bar, and gift shop. Your boarding pass is a small laminated card reminiscent of air travel before security became what it is now. When it’s time to board your seaplane, your captain will meet you in the waiting area and you just walk out to the dock. I know what you’re thinking…captain? Wouldn’t he be a pilot? Oh wait…what do you call him? We asked and he confirmed he is indeed the captain.
Once aboard, the whole process for take-off is quite simple. After a quick safety video on an iPad, you’re ready to set sail…I mean, take flight. From what I could tell, it’s basically just like looking both ways before crossing the street. Make sure no one else is taking off then you can just go.
I thought take off would be bumpy, scary, vomit-inducing, etc. but it was actually really smooth. The water was calm that day but we did have some steady rain. I guess when you’re taking off and landing on the water, what’s a little rain going to do?
What to see
The views of Vancouver from the air were spectacular. I wasn’t sure how much visibility we would have because of the rain, so I was pleasantly surprised when I could see just about everything. I looked down hoping to see a whale but instead I saw a dolphin which was pretty cool.
The best part of flying in the Beaver is that it only seats 6 people. Having traveled with friends, we had the entire plane to ourselves. Windows are all around you and you can see clearly into the cockpit area. It’s a pretty intimate experience and really fun when you’re with another couple. I think I took about a thousand photos and videos, and I completely forgot to be scared. It was too much fun and the scenery was so beautiful. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
What to wear
After only being in Vancouver for a few days, I learned that the weather can be a little unpredictable and rain is probably in the forecast at some point. It was a pretty chilly 50 degrees with wind and rain, so I dressed casually in jeans and a puffy jacket with hood. The rain really never stopped so having a hood or umbrella is crucial to your comfort and enjoyment. I wore low heeled ankle boots, which made it easy to climb in and out of the seaplane. You’ll have to step up from the dock onto a small ladder to get into the plane, so leave your heels at home.
Have you ever flown on a seaplane before? If not, would you do it?
xo – Erin
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