A lot of people go kayaking without any swimming ability. Should you? We’ll examine the risks of not knowing how to swim and the concerns about water safety. There are ways to overcome these problems by taking swimming lessons and/or using a kayak with floaties.
We’ll also examine the risks of swimming, which are considerably more significant than the risks of kayaking. The most important thing to remember is that the most significant dangers come from being struck by a huge wave or getting lost on the water.
Kayaking Is A Great Outdoor Sport For Even A Non-swimmer
Most of us have been told at one point or another that if we can’t swim, we shouldn’t go in the water. With kayaking, however, this advice may be unnecessary.
A calm river or slow-moving river or bank is best:
You’ll avoid the biggest hazards of kayaking, which are riptides and waves. The latter is more of a danger in white-water kayaking, but you can still get stuck in a current or be trapped by high water.
Conquer your fear of the water:
To be safe, you need to overcome your natural fear of water. The best way to do this is by watching someone else kayak for the first time. The more you go, the better you’ll become.
Wear A Life Jacket (Personal Flotation Device):
You should always wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) while kayaking. These devices are what keep you floating in the water, so you need to use one whenever you’re out on the water.
Kayaking Requires Physical Inactivity:
Kayaking is a great way to keep in shape a fitness tracker can monitor your activities. The kayaks move quickly, and you can doggy paddle up to 15-20 miles per hour for various reasons. Hold on to your kayaks.
Go Kayaking With An Experienced Kayaker Instructor Or Guide:
You can learn many what you need to know from a qualified kayaking instructor. This is especially helpful for your kayaking experience, and it may also help if you have questions about dangerous situations.
Safety Gear for Kayaking
1. Life jacket: You need to wear a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) while kayaking, which keeps you floating in the water.
2. Kayak: If you take a personal watercraft out for a test run, you can find good places to go around your area. You can find many different kayaks on the Internet, including some that can be attached to the back of a bicycle.
3. Paddle (for beginners): It’s best to use a paddle for your first few outings. This gives you more control over the kayak, and you can do the proper paddling techniques with different strokes while learning how to kayak.
4. Waterproof matches: You should always be prepared for emergencies, and this includes flames. You can make a fire hotter while kayaking, which can help you in case you do get stuck in the water.
5. Solar phone charger: A solar phone charger can come in handy, especially if you’re out on the water for several hours. You need to make sure that it’s waterproof, and those that have a built-in battery will usually last longer than those without.
6. Whistle: A whistle is a good idea if you’re going to go out on your own. You can use it to get people’s attention who can help you if you run into trouble.
7. Waterproof pouch: You can carry plenty of things in this waterproof pouch, including your phone and PFD. It can be easily cleaned and small enough to fit on your kayak, which is good because you’re not going to want to carry many things with you.
Kayaking is one of the best outdoor sports to do near cities. You can find many great places near your area, including rivers, lakes, and ponds. You can even go down small streams and creeks. Do not forget to always equipped with kayaking safety gears with you.
White Water Kayaking Safety Tips
If kayaking in white water, it’s important to wear a safety vest at all times. Kayak wear can give you the best protection. Here are some of the best kayak wear that you can buy…
- Personal life vests: These come in many different forms, including those that are made of neoprene. They can be worn underneath your regular clothes, so nobody knows that you’re wearing them. The main purpose of this type of vest is to keep you floating at the top of the water.
- Wetsuits: A wetsuit is also good to wear when kayaking. This is because of a lot of conditions such as cool water temperature, and you may need something to protect you from the cold.
- Crewneck t-shirts: These are the most popular type of t-shirts, so they’re cheap as well. They’ll keep you warm, and they’re inexpensive. These t-shirts are perfect for kayaking, especially in places where the temperature can drop at any moment.
- Long sleeve t-shirts: Just like crew-neck t-shirts, these are usually worn under life vests. They can keep you warm on a cold morning, which is why many people buy them for kayaking. They’re made with extra long sleeves, so you can always be covered up.
- Short sleeve hooded t-shirts: These are also good to use for kayaking. They protect you from the cold, and they’re also very comfortable to wear. Jackets with hoods can be used for kayaking, as well.
Bodies Of Water
The type of water conditions that you experience will help you determine what equipment to bring with you.
1. River: The river is usually calm, and you can enjoy yourself without worrying about the dangers of the water. However, if the water turns into a swift river, you should beware. Be sure to wear life jackets at all times for this type of river.
2. Big River: The big river can be perilous, and you should take caution and wear life jackets.
3. Salt Water: If you have a kayak that has pontoons, ocean kayaking is probably going to be your best choice to go for kayaking. Ample water is hazardous for you, so you should be prepared to prevent the dangers. As for using a kayak on the ocean, it’s very wise to bring along a life jacket.
4. Flat Water: Flatwater is not considered dangerous at all. However, you should still wear life jackets; and be careful when going up the water.
5. Waves: Wearing a life jacket will help you stay afloat throughout the waves. Be sure to wear one if the waves get too big for your kayak.
Are Kayaks Dangerous for People Who Can’t Swim?
Kayaking has been a big part of some people’s lives and they’ve been doing it for a long time too. Many people also kayak because they want to learn how to swim and get better at it. Some kayakers even make swimming their hobby as well. However, some people might worry about kayaking because of the fact that they can’t swim. The good news is that you can still kayak even if you don’t know how to swim. It’s usually not dangerous as long as you know a lot of things about it.
Kayaking Tips for Non-Swimmers
Having to kayak without knowing how to swim can be a scary experience for some. However, you really don’t have to be a strong swimmer because there are still things that we can do. Just be careful and have a good time.
*Get A Life Jacket: As with most water activities, having someone go out with you, especially if you know nothing about kayaking, is going to help a lot. Especially when you don’t have the ability to swim.
*Take A Kayak Lesson: The best thing you can do is to take a class and learn how to kayak safely. You will also learn how to stay dry while driving in the wind, which is important for your safety as well.
*Overcome Your Fear: If you really don’t want to go kayaking, we’re very sorry. The reason why a lot of people don’t like to kayak is that they are scared of it.
*Do Kayaking With A Group: The best way to do kayaking is with a group. If a person can get five or more people to go kayaking, the likelihood of an accident goes way down for everyone. Plus, you will have the support of other people who share your interest in the sport.
*Short And Simple Trips: If you are just starting, start on short trips of about an hour at the most. This will help you develop your skills and make sure that kayaking is something that you really want to do.
*Monitor The Water And Weather Conditions: Before you start, you should check the water and weather conditions to make sure that the trip won’t be dangerous or otherwise unpleasant.
*Physically And Mentally Healthy: You will need reasonable physical and mental health. You’ll need to walk long distances with luggage up hills, stairs, mountains, and possibly even in the shallow water. If you can’t walk that distance, you should reconsider your plan.
What If You’re Scared Of The Water?
- Stay Calm: The worst thing you can do is to become terrified. If you are afraid of falling in the water, try to stay calm and not panic.
- Don’t Get Over Confident: If you have conquered your fear of water, it is easy to become too comfortable. In the water, you are in a state of nature, and it is easy to forget that. Eventually, you are going to want to get out of the water.
- Maintain Your Balance: If you are more skilled when building sandcastles than when kayaking, try not to let it show. It is generally regarded as bad form to teeter on your paddle or to capsize while demonstrating strength moves like the helicopter. A recovered capsize is impressive.
What Type Of Life Jackets Are Recommended For Non-swimmers?
1. Foam Jacket: These are better than inflatable ones, and they make you float more. Plus, they’re very comfortable even if you wear them underneath your regular clothes.
2. Tube: They’re also very comfortable, but they’re not as floaty as the foam ones. If you want to be able to fit a lot of stuff in the tube, go for the one with pouches on the sides.
3. Paddles: These are the best, and they can also come in tubes. This is good if you want to kayak with friends or family.
4. Drysuit: If you are going to go kayaking on really cold days, this is the best option for you to choose.
Conclusion
Should You Go Kayaking If You Can’t Swim? The answer is Yes. It’s a good idea to kayak even if you don’t know how to swim. It’s not dangerous and it’s actually much safer than most other water activities. You can just wear a life jacket and do your best as long as you know how to kayak safely. How about when you have your period, can you still go for kayaking? Click through to read – Can You Go Kayaking While On Your Period? To learn more and be aware what to do and not to do when kayaking.