Ive done a number of sea kayak trips both guided and unguided here on the Pacific Coast. The gulf islands in the Georgia strait are lovely to kayak around and the waters are relatively safe, although you still need to be aware of tides and currents.
Our honeymoon was a kayaking trip in the Broken Islands in Barkley Sound
(west coast of Vancouver island) and weve done a couple of trips to Clayoquot Sound also on the west coast but farther north (near Tofino)
each time we saw grey whales, sea lions, and a huge variety of seabirds.
Clayoquot sound with Flores and Vargas islands have incredibly long flat empty sandy beaches. Kayaking in ocean swells is definitely disconcerting - when the kayak in front of you disappears and all you see is the paddle -but most spills happen when landing or taking off.

We also got canoe and have taken it often around Vancouver - there are a number of mountain lakes around here where the water is like glass in the morning - but due to the mountains and rising hot air - tend to get very windy in the afternoons. Also places like Pitt Lake which is a tidal lake - we learned the hardway to secure the canoe.

Its a bit difficult now with a 20month old daughter and another baby due in 2 months but well be back to the water again eventually. Its certainly some of the best memories of my life, being out on the water and watching grey whales swim by.