Kayaking Safety: A quick guide for beginners
Kayaking is one of the most popular water sports in the world and you can do it in any type of water. Whether you just want to relax in the tranquil waters of any of the many beaches around Dubai and around the world, or you’re trying to conquer the wild rapids, kayaking lets you experience the fun and excitement of traveling in the water.
Now, here’s the part the members of the KiteNSurf team are really stoked about…
You can have the same experience in the beautiful calm waters across the beaches of Dubai. Enjoy the scenic views while kayaking along the shoreline near the majestic Burj Al Arab, the world’s first 7-star hotel. Sounds awesome, right?
Kayaking is a very safe water sport and it’s quite easy to learn the basics without prior skills and suitable for all family members. However, you must still need to know the basic safety precautions before you start paddling off the waters.
If you’d like to enjoy more of your kayaking adventures in the future, then you should follow these simple kayaking safety tips:
Never forget to wear a life vest
Statistics show that 48% of all kayak fatalities are because of people who are not following this very simple rule: they didn’t wear their life vest when they went out on the water.
This is without a doubt, the most important kayak safety tip that you need to keep in mind. Never go out on the water without your life jacket. If you feel that wearing a life jacket is restricting your movement or maybe it’s too uncomfortable, you can try PFDs or other flotation devices. Remember, you need something to keep you afloat when the need arises. So always wear a life vest. It will save your life, that’s guaranteed. For more details about life jackets you can check our collection of life jackets available at our watersports shop in Dubai.
Learn how to re-enter your kayak from the water
This is a very critical skill that you need to master. Sure, getting in and out of the kayak is quite easy when you do it near the shore. But, getting back in the kayak after falling off the water is a whole different ball game.
If you accidentally flip over, it can be pretty challenging to turn over the kayak. What you need to do is to get out of the vessel immediately. Turn the kayak around to its normal position and then you climb back in.
Before you go on a kayaking trip in Dubai, take some time to practice your re-entering skill in the shallow part of the water. Our instructors at our kite N surf city beach location can assist you and give you a few tips prior to your kayak rental in case required.
Make sure to bring important safety gear
Kite N Surf offer kayak rentals and provide the life jackets all the time. In case you have your own kayak and you go paddling often we recommend on top of your life vest, be sure to bring the following items of safety gear:
- Whistle – You can attach the whistle to your life vest or PFD. You can use it for emergencies when the need arises, but remember, its primary purpose is to call attention for help, so no horsing around guys!
- Communication device – you can bring your mobile phones to any area as long as it has a good signal. In case nobody can hear your whistle to ask for help, you need a different way to ask for help. You can call your friends or emergency hotline for an emergency.
- Extra paddle – It’s nice to have a spare paddle (in case you are going for long paddles). You don’t know when you will lose your one and only paddle in the sea.
- Headlamp – This is needed in case you’re out in the water longer than you expected.
- Towline – You need this to help another paddler in case he can’t get back to shore on his own.
Check the weather forecast before you go
It’s very important that you are aware of the weather conditions before you plan your trip. Check the water temperature if you need to and be prepared for sudden changes in weather. Knowing the weather condition will help you decide when and where to go paddling.
For example, in case of offshore wind, we don’t recommend that you go out paddling as you can drift away from the shore easily. Offshore winds can push you hard and they can make it difficult for you to go back to the shore.
When kayaking during summer in Dubai, we usually recommend to go kayaking out in the early morning or afternoon. This is to avoid the extreme heat of the sun during peak hours. Understanding the weather forecast is very helpful if you want to avoid any dangerous situations.
Know what to wear
It’s important that you anticipate the different changes in weather conditions when you go out on a kayaking trip. You need an appropriate clothing that can help you withstand the weather. If you live in Dubai you know how hot it can be during the day and how chill it can be during winter.
If the weather gets colder, you may need to wear a wet or dry suit. Both of these garments can keep you warm even if you fall into the water. If the area is extremely hot, especially during summer, you can protect your skin from the sun by wearing a hat and long sleeves lycra.
Don’t go alone
If you are an experienced kayaker, then, by all means, you can travel alone. However, it’s still advisable to have someone to accompany you during a kayaking trip. Self-rescue can be achieved but it’s better to have a buddy to help you out in case of emergencies. Come to think of it, it’s more fun to share your adventure with a friend!
Create a Float Plan and share it (in case you go out for a long distance)
Your float plan should include the following details about your trip:
- When? Start and return time.
- Who? The names of each member in the group. You should include their contact numbers.
- Where? Your planned route.
- What? Create an action plan in case things don’t go according to plan.
Make sure to leave your float plan with a close friend or relative (obviously not one of the friends or relatives that is going to be out on the water with you!). We are not telling you to be paranoid, we really are the last people to want to create panic, but even we really believe in leaving plenty of copies of your plan in your car or hotel room. This will ensure that authorities will have an idea about the details of your trip in case the worst thing happens.
Check all your equipment before you leave
Making sure that all your kayaking gear is working will help your kayaking trip be a lot safer. Unless you have brand new kayak equipment, it’s always smart to check your gear for signs of wear and tear before you head out in the waters. Better safe than sorry!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Now that you have an idea on how to stay safe while kayaking, your next goal is to look for a good place to start. At Kite N Surf, we provide a fleet of single and double kayaks for rental in Dubai for you to enjoy and explore the shorelines of Dubai in our location city beach Dubai. Our service is available for the entire week from 7AM onwards. No need to book ahead of time, just show up and we’ll take care of you. In case you are planning to buy kayak we do have a wide range of kayaks available at our water sports shop online or you can get in touch with by phone on +971558006363 or by email to aloha@kitensurf.ae and our team will be more than happy to assist in choosing the right kayak.
