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Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue Course

  • Do you want the skills to stay out of trouble on the sea?
  • Do you want to learn practical solutions if you get into difficulty?
  • Do you want to learn the tools to solve common paddling issues in both sheltered and moderate conditions on the sea?

Then the Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue course is for you!

Your course will support you to explore and practice simple strategies and safe skills that provide you with the tools to solve common paddling issues on the sea, in both sheltered and moderate conditions, providing peace of mind when venturing out.

This course is open to anyone of any age.


  • Course Content

    WHY TAKE THE SEA KAYAK SAFETY AND RESCUE COURSE?

    First of all, this award is all about keeping safe in your craft on the sea, suitable craft include sea kayaks, sea specific sit on tops and closed cockpit kayaks. So, whether you are paddling with friends or your club, or working towards a leadership assessment, this practical course is packed with safe practical solutions. It doesn’t matter about your age or whether you’re relatively new to paddling on the sea, this course supports your knowledge and raises your awareness of your personal safety.


    If you needed any more convincing, the course is completely based around training and raising awareness, with no assessment. Structured to support you, our experienced tutors will ensure you have plenty of time practising, as well as understanding how you can develop skills and experience after the course.


    The course takes around 7 hours and will cover 8 modules:

    • Sources of information
    • Safety frameworks
    • Contact and towing rescues
    • Self-rescues
    • Deep water rescues
    • Dealing with equipment damage/failure
    • Landing and first aid
    • Reflection and skills checklist

    There will be opportunities to develop and progress your rescue skills and meet like-minded people during the course. Many of our course candidates develop long lasting friendships, connections and contacts.


    To get the most out of your course, we would recommend holding the Sea Kayak Award or equivalent ability, due to the paddling environment and the boat control required to participate fully in the course.


    You can read the sample programme here: Sample Programme and Session Plans.


    You can check your skills using the Skills Competency Checklist.

  • Course Structure

    This is a mainly practical training course with no assessment. Your course will support you in keeping yourself and others safe whilst on the water, providing you with the tools and concepts to consider solutions to common issues on the sea, in both sheltered and moderate conditions.


    The course will cover 8 key modules -


    Sources of Information

    • Times of high and low water
    • Tidal ranges and streams
    • Weather
    • Swell and surf information

    Safety Frameworks

    • Moderate water sea environment and choice of location
    • Personal clothing and group equipment
    • Means of attracting attention
    • Calling for help

    Contact and Towing rescues

    • Towing systems
    • Self-rescues
    • Self-rescues
    • Assisted self-rescues

    Deep water rescues

    • Rescuing and emptying sea kayaks
    • Techniques for getting a swimmer out of the water
    • Multiple rescues
    • Unconscious / unresponsive rescues

    Dealing with Equipment Damage/Failure

    • Lost day hatch
    • Flooded bulkhead
    • Skeg failure

    Landing and First Aid

    • Landing a casualty through surf or onto rocks
    • First aid at sea and on the shoreline

    Reflection and Skills Checklist

    • Reflections from the course
    • Reflections on own learning and areas for development
    • Skills checklists
  • Prerequisites

    To get the most out of your course, we would recommend holding the Sea Kayak Award or equivalent ability, due to the paddling environment and the boat control required to participate fully in the course.


    Open to all ages

  • Certification

    Attendance certificates are issued to candidates by their SCA, following a recommendation from the course provider.

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