Kayaking Safety Tips For Beginners

Posted on: 20 December 2016

If you are getting ready to head out on to the water on a kayak tour like Virgin Kayak Tours for the first time, you will want to take a few moments to review some of the following safety tips. By doing this, you will have a much easier time staying safe and having a lot of fun.

Wear A Life Jacket

It does not matter if you are an excellent swimmer. In moments of distress, you could find that the flotation device will save your life, especially if you are going to find yourself stuck in the water for a long period of time. When you make use of a life jacket, you will not have to worry about becoming too exhausted to swim or stay afloat on your own. Also, another reason to wear the life jacket is because it is going to help keep the trunk of your body warmer than it would be without it. Too many people pass away because they became too cold and their bodies shut down.

Practice Tipping The Kayak Over

While you will never want to find yourself in a capsized kayak, you will want to know what to do in the event it does happen. You will want to practice how to hang on to your paddle and how to flip the kayak back over, while you are getting back into it. Simply listening to instructions or reading about such techniques is not enough. You are going to have to go the extra mile and practice this in real life. Just make sure that you are practicing this in calm waters so you are not placing yourself in a position of extreme danger.

Wear A Helmet On Rough Waters

It is highly important to make sure that you are well aware of the type of water and how dangerous it is before you take your kayak out there. If you are going to be on waters that are known to be a little rough with fast moving waters or sudden rapids, you will need to wear a helmet. The helmet will protect your head in the event your kayak hits a large rock or you are suddenly thrown into the water.

Never Go By Yourself

Even if you enjoy some alone time out in nature, you will want to refrain from ever taking your kayak out on the water alone. This is because there would be no one to help you in case of an emergency. The more people there are in your group, the safer it will be for all of you.

For added safety, you might want to take the time to learn about any local kayaking courses. This way, you will be able to practice a lot of safety tips in person, which may make it easier for you to remember a lot of it.

Share