Kayaking Courses

We have a huge selection of courses on offer and hundreds of dates to choose from. Our carefully chosen team of coaches are some of the highest qualified and most experienced in the UK

Find My Level

L1 – Discover 

This will be your first time in a kayak. For this level, you do not need to be sporty or adventurous; in fact, you do not even need to be particularly confident in the water. We will teach you everything you need to know and help you discover the delights of Sea Kayaking! 

BC Equivalent: Paddle Start/Discover

L2 – Introduction  

You should book this course if you have a passion for the outdoors and want to get into going on journeys in a Sea Kayak. You’ve might have done a bit of sea kayaking before or you enjoy other watersports like sailing, surfing or river kayaking. You class yourself as averagely fit and you’re really keen to get as much as possible out of the course 

BC Equivalent: Paddle Explore

L3 – Intermediate 

You Sea Kayak once or twice a fortnight and might be a member of a Kayak Club. You already have an understanding of Sea Kayak trip planning and want to take your skills and knowledge to the next level. You don’t need to have a reliable roll but it should be something you are keen to develop. You should be comfortable kayaking in force 4 winds 

BC Equivalent: Sea Kayak Award

L4 – Advanced 

You should be an active and experienced sea paddler; over the years you should have undertaken some longer and more challenging expeditions. You should already have the ability to be an active part of the group and know how to help others if they get into difficulty. You should already be able to roll or self-rescue. We will be looking for conditions where you can test your skills so you will get the most out of the course if you are keen to challenge yourself. You should be happy in Force 4+ conditions and launching/landing through surf. 

BC Equivalent: Coastal Sea Kayak Award

IMPORTANT: Our groups are small and coaches will always focus on you as an individual. No matter what course you are on, we will always help you develop the skills and knowledge that you need. 

What Do I Get From A Course?

We tailor each course to your individual needs, but things you can expect are:

• Explore and enjoy a world-class venue for Sea Kayaking
• Learn the skills that will help you plan your own trips
• Top UK coaches, helping you get the most from your experience
• Small groups and a large selection of Kayaks and Personal Kit

Certificates

Included with all of our courses is the internationally recognised British Canoeing Paddle Start Certificate. You can receive this, free of charge, as a digital PDF certificate direct from British Canoeing. Higher level, BC Paddle Awards are available on all of our courses if you meet the required skill criteria.  

The Groups

To ensure you get lots of personal attention and coaching we have a maximum Coach/Client ratio of 1:6. You can expect to meet likeminded people with a passion for the outdoors.

Our friendly welcoming instructors are full of enthusiasm for Sea Kayaking and they will help the group get the most from the course in a relaxed and supportive environment.   

Equipment & Facilities

A choice of over 40 Sea Kayak’s by P & H, VALLEY, NORTH SHORE, DAGGER, VENTURE, WILDERNESS SYSTEM, WAVESPORT and PERCEPTION. We also have a large range of Paddles, Buoyancy aids, Cags, Spraydecks, Charts, VHF Radios, Sea Kayak Guides and a range of personal safety equipment for you to try out. Our waterfront location is 100m from the slipway and we have toilets and secure storage facilities here. For chart work on wild winter days, we have a large comfortable classroom 100m from the kayak base. 

2 Day – Vs – 5 Day Courses

Our standard 2-day course is packed full of information and top coaching that will help you learn new skills and gain knowledge. You will get to enjoy the classic Sea Kayaking on offer around Dartmouth. On our 5-day course, you will do a deep dive into the world of Sea Kayaking. You will get to plan trips and launch from a variety of remote locations. Every day is a unique experience that you will remember for years to come.    

Qualifications 

For those looking for an internationally recognised professional Coaching or Leadership Qualification, we run a range of British Canoeing training and assessment qualifications. We also run BC Discipline Specific Personal Performance Awards.