Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for the paddle.
- Select clothing, footwear, personal protective and other equipment suitable for the paddle and conditions, and check for safe working condition.
- Carry, prepare craft and complete safety and serviceability checks.
- Waterproof, pack and stow clothing, personal resources, and food according to access requirements during paddle.
- Interpret planned course from activity plans and maps to assist in following the course.
- Confirm activity safety and emergency response procedures to ensure compliance during activities.
- Confirm protocols for communications between paddlers.
- Fit and adjust personal protective equipment to ensure comfort and safety.
- Paddle and manoeuvre sea kayaks in sheltered coastal waters.
- Embark and launch sea kayak from shore while maintaining stability.
- Control direction of sea kayak forward, in reverse and sideways using a range of appropriate strokes, leans, edges and combinations.
- Maintain appropriate posture, use of trunk rotation, paddle and blade to efficiently paddle the sea kayak.
- Establish and maintain an appropriate paddling rhythm and pace to minimise fatigue, strain and injury.
- Safely approach, and negotiate obstacles and hazards to minimise risk of injury.
- Maintain visual contact and effective communication with party members throughout all activities.
- Monitor party formation, paddling pace and space between sea kayaks and make required adjustments.
- Rescue self following a capsize.
- Execute techniques appropriate for situation to avoid a wet exit and re-establish paddling position promptly.
- Exit the sea kayak in a controlled manner following a capsize, and recover paddle.
- Manoeuvre the paddle and upturned sea kayak to shore or to rescue craft and empty out water.
- Use techniques when in deep water to empty water and re-enter sea kayak.
- Perform deep water rescues in sheltered coastal waters.
- Identify immediate hazards, assess risks and negotiate to avoid injury to self and others.
- Select and use other leaders or party members, equipment and rescue techniques appropriate to situation.
- Manoeuvre rescue craft to capsized party member, forming a raft-up as required.
- Provide clear and concise instructions to person being rescued and others assisting.
- Assist rescuee to return to their craft using rescue technique appropriate to situation.
- Assess ability of rescuee to continue and tow to nearest safe landing, as required.
- Land and secure kayaks.