SAFETY & NAVIGATION TRAINING
The British Canoeing safety training courses are designed to give you the skills you need to stay safe whatever your discipline or level of activity.
All safety training is open to anyone with the relevant personal ability to attend and is assessed only if you go forward for a leadership or coaching qualification.
Safety Courses
Paddle Safer
The Paddler Safer course gives new and novice paddlers the opportunity to develop their safety skills when taking to the water in a sheltered water environment, in or on a craft of their choice.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 2 hour course
- For new and novice paddlers to learn to paddle safely
SUP Safer
This course is about keeping safe on your stand up paddleboard (SUP) in sheltered water environments. The course is completely based around training, raising awareness with no assessment.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 4 hour course
- A practical training course with no assessment
Paddlesport Safety and Rescue
Training on key skills needed to operate safely and deal with common emergencies in a sheltered water environment. These skills then form the foundations for safety and rescue throughout British Canoeing awards.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 6 hour course
- Practical course in calm, sheltered water
Inland Open Water Safety and Rescue
This course will support you to explore and practice simple strategies and safe skills that provide you with the tools to solve common paddling issues, in both sheltered and moderate conditions.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 6 hour course
- Based around training and raising awareness, with no assessment
Introduction to White Water Safety
This course will support you to explore and practice simple strategies and safe skills that provide you with the tools to solve common paddling issues, in grade 2/3 white water (moderate) conditions.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 6 hour course (approx.)
- Based around training and raising awareness, with no assessment
White Water Safety (WWS)
This course is designed for paddlers on moving water who are looking for the skills to stay out of trouble, and what to do when you or others get in trouble.
Please note, this course replaced the White Water Safety and Rescue course (WWSR).
Summary
- 2 day course
- 9 modules
- No minimum age
Advanced White Water Safety (AWWS)
This course will support you in keeping yourself and others safe whilst on the river, providing you with the tools and concepts to consider solutions to common issues on moving water.
Please note, this course replaced the Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue course (AWWSR).
Summary
- 2 day course
- 12 modules
- Focused on Grade 3-4 white water
Sea Kayak Safety and Rescue
This course supports you to explore and practice simple strategies to solve common paddling issues in sheltered and moderate conditions on the sea.
Summary
- 7 hour course (approx.)
- No minimum age
Surf Kayak Safety and Rescue
This course teaches strategies and safe skills giving you the tools to solve common paddling issues in both sheltered and moderate surf conditions.
Summary
- 7 modules, approx. 6 hours
- No minimum age
Swimmer Safety and Rescue
This course is designed to provide paddlers with the key safety skills and knowledge to work as part of a water safety team where open water swimming is involved.
Summary
- 6 modules
- Minimum 16 years of age
Navigation Courses
Coastal Navigation and Tidal Planning
Designed for paddlers carrying out coastal journeys including islands up to 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of tidal movement up to up to 2 knots and winds of up to force 4.
Summary
- No minimum age
- 8 hour course
- Classroom based course
Open Water Navigation and Tidal Planning
Designed for paddlers carrying out open water journeys including islands over 2 nautical miles offshore in areas of strong tidal movement of 3+ knots and/or including winds of up to force 5.
Summary
- No minumum age
- 8 hour course
- Classroom based