Confluence - A Vancouver Island Autumn Immersion
Swim with Salmon and Explore the beauty of Vancouver Island
2026 Dates:
Registration Application at Bottom of Page
SEP 7th - 11th - 3 Day / 4 Night - $2500 per seat ($2350 Before Jun 15)
SEP 11th-16th - 4 Day / 5 Night - $3600 per seat ($3350 Before Jun 15)
8 River Adventure participants per program - see “plus 1” and private bookings re: bringing guests along
PRIVATE BOOKINGS OPEN for Registration until June 3rd.
REGULAR BOOKINGS Open June 4th. Waitlist and Application Open now.
“GUEST STAYS”: Incentive to share the experience with others in different ways.
***Private bookings based off 8 paid seats (does not limit to 8 guests at Smith Lake during your stay)***
***See bottom of page for Private Booking and Standard Booking “plus 1” “Guest Stay” program details.***
Who is this for? What to expect?
These programs are for all levels so long as you’re a competent swimmer and can manage yourself in the water.
Ages 6 and up recommended (All minors must be under surveillance of an adult at all times)
Access: There’s a mix of 20 minute hikes/walks to river sites on well managed hiking trails with slight elevation drop and gain. There is some uneven terrain but mostly it is on the easy side for access to all sides.
Hiking and Mushroom Picking options very based off group and land excursions will vary based on group dynamics.
Ocean Boat day in 4 Day/5 Night package is a blend of ocean snorkelling, hand harvesting, wildlife viewing and potentially fishing based off group dynamics.
Included in programs:
ADVENTURE:
Guided river snorkelling with the Salmon Runs in multiple different river systems over your dive days.
Transport to river sites all managed within the program and within 1.5-2 hrs of accommodations
Land excursions: Old growth forest/nature walk, mushroom picking, hiking/waterfall viewing, picnic lunches etc…
Each dive day will have a mix of river snorkelling and land excursion to get a real feel for Vancouver Island in the fall.
***Ocean Boat Day included in 4 Day/5 Night Package***
ACCOMMODATIONS: SMITH LAKE FARM GLAMPING
Accommodations and private use of facilities at Smith Lake Farm during your stay.
Stunning Glamping accommodations provided for guests
Sauna
Private Lake - swimming, paddle-boarding, canoeing etc…
Disc Golf course
Bee Keeping Course/Education
etc…
CULINARY EXPERIENCE:
All meals are curated by Chef Paul Moran - Winner of Top Chef Canada Season 7 and owner of Sixty-Forty in Victoria B.C.
Chef Paul and Bottom Dwellers began working side by side in 2018 with our Tide to Table programs in Tofino. With the mushroom picking and ocean harvesting goals in the program we hope, should the group be in agreement, to recreate some of these culinary moments and do our best to integrate these components of the program into the cuisine.
Beautifully curated seated dinners at the farm
Healthy and nutritious packed lunches for the days to keep you going.
Easy and convenient breakfasts to get fuelled up for your adventure and start the day right.
GENERAL:
Shared group photo set of photos from trip
Airport Pickup can be arranged from Comox or Campbell River Airport on arrival or departure days pending on time.
Personal Snacks are recommended to be gathered for your trip
***Alcohol is not included***
Rental Gear can be organized
Program Description:
Confluence - A Vancouver Island Autumn Immersion
Each autumn on Vancouver Island, the rivers, forests and ocean come alive as Pacific salmon return from the sea to their spawning grounds. Eagles gather in the trees, bears move along the riverbanks, and the waters pulse with life through one of nature’s most remarkable seasonal migrations.
Confluence is an immersive wilderness and culinary experience built around this extraordinary time of year — blending river snorkelling alongside salmon, old-growth rainforest exploration, exceptional food, ocean adventure (4D/5N package) and the rugged beauty of Vancouver Island into a small-group experience designed to slow down and reconnect with the natural world, oneself and others.
Hosted by Bottom Dwellers Freediving, these programs are accessible to all experience levels. Participants simply need to be comfortable swimmers and able to manage themselves in the water with basic snorkelling equipment.
Guests will stay at Smith Lake Farm, a secluded glamping property nestled in the Comox Valley, providing a comfortable basecamp surrounded with the comforts and serenity one seeks. Throughout the experience, meals will be curated and prepared by Chef Paul Moran (owner of Sixty-Forty) creating a culinary program inspired by the season and the abundance of Vancouver Island.
Each day combines guided in-water excursions with opportunities to experience the broader scope of what Vancouver Island has to offer in the fall. Days are intentionally paced to allow time for exploration, connection, and appreciation of the overall landscape — including such experiences as old-growth forest walks, hikes, nature interpretation, mushroom foraging opportunities, and select scenic stops throughout the region. Excursion locations are all within approximately a 1.75 hour radius of the farm property, allowing guests to experience a wide range of Vancouver Island environments during their stay and see how truly incredible our island is.
Example Itinerary: (3 day / 4 Night)
***The 4 Day / 5 Night Program includes 1 additional Ocean Day by Boat exploring the local waters with Island Life Expeditions on their incredible landing craft***
Day 1: arrival day
12:00 Casual Arrival to Smith Lake Farm.
Arrive and enjoy the property for the day while you get settled on the farm and get organized for your experience.
Swimming, Paddle Boarding, Sauna, Disc Golf… All the amenities will be on hand and available to you to enjoy from noon onward while we prepare your accomodations.
Organize any rental equipment needed for your trip
16:00 Check-in to glamping accommodations and relax
18:00 Arrival Dinner, meet and greet, program brief and overview.
21:00 Bed-time
Days 2-4: River Days
The heart of the experience is the camaraderie among guests, crew, and trip leaders. Beyond the day's adventures, fostering connections and sharing stories enriches your trip.
As wind, weather, and swells affect the trip, the daily schedule changes throughout the week and your trip leader announces the next day’s plan the day before. We also include a full island tour of Rurutu’s culture, history, and legends, an epic hike to the Dragon’s Head during low tide, and other cultural activities to better connect to the island and her people throughout the week.
A sample schedule for a day during the week looks like this:
06:00 Wake up.
0630 Breakfast
07:00 Departure to River Dive Location of the Day
09:00 Arrive Dive site, enjoy a snack, suit up and hike in to river location.
09:30 Snorkel and enjoy river location
12:30 Return to vehicles, change and eat lunch at determined location
13:30 Begin Travels to afternoon adventure/excursion
14:30 Land Excursion of the day (Forest/Nature Walk, Hike, Mushroom picking etc…)
17:30 Arrive at Farm, Shower and Change.
19:00 Group Dinner at the Farm.
21:00 Bedtime.
Day 5: departure day
07:00 Wake-up
08:00 Seated, relaxed departure, departure breakfast.
10:00 Check-out of accomdations
10:00 - 12:00 Enjoy lake property and say good-byes
***Ocean Day - Only in 4 Day / 5 Night program***
07:00 Wake-up.
07:30 Breakfast.
08:00 Enjoy the property and lake.
09:30 Departure for Boat.
10:00 Off-Dock.
16:00 Return to Dock.
16:30 Enjoy the property.
18:30 Dinner.
21:00 Bed.
“Guest Stays” - Private Bookings and ‘Plus 1’
Private Bookings:
Book Smith Lake farm for you and your own private group during your Confluence - Autumn Immersion Experience.
The In-water experience during our trips support 8 participants per outing - Privates are based off of 8 seats booked
Interchangeable in-water experience seats can be explored for added fee with private bookings
Up to 8 additional “guest stays” can be added to your booking at Smith Lake Farm
Guest Stays include all Culinary experiences, accommodation and Smith Lake Farm amenities within the available glamping sites included in the private booking.
E-mail us to discuss additional family scenarios as we’d be happy to see what we can do to support it
Additional “Guest Stays”:
3 Day / 4 Night - $1040
4 Day / 5 Night - $1300
Standard Booking “Guest Stays":
Have that special someone that you want to spend time with but that enjoys doing their own thing a little more?
Add a “Guest Stay” to your accommodation as a Plus 1 and let your guest take advantage of the property and surrounding area while you’re off enjoying your adventures.
“Guest Stays” include all Culinary experiences, accommodation and Smith Lake Farm amenities within the Glamping Site booking of your program seat.
Guest Stays include full use of Smith Lake Farm during the days while the program participants are
“Guest Stays” are booked on a availability basis.
We do our best to accommodate everyone however we are limited in some capacities with how we can provide this offering. If ever you have any questions please feel free to ask and we’ll see what we can do to accommodate.