General
The ocean coast is both beautiful and dangerous. There are few locations better to paddle a quality sea kayak, however never underestimate the numerous dangers, nor the volatility of the water and weather conditions.
Safety
Consider the following:
- Never boat alone,
- Have the skills, knowledge, and equipment adequate for all conditions,
- Wear a life jacket,
- Study nautical charts/tide, tables/current, guide books – prepare for all potential ocean hazards,
- Know the principles of navigation,
- Keep your paddle in the water,
- Use a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB),
- A weather radio is strongly recommended,
- Have appropriate flotation in your boat,
- Kayakers – learn and master wet exits, rolls and self-rescues with paddle floats.
Coastal Hazards
Consider the following:
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- Hypothermia – The silent killer – be aware of exposure to wind and rain. Ensure adequate and appropriate clothing. If you somehow end up in the water – get out ASAP,
- Wind – Can be dangerous, increasing in velocity and making control of a small craft difficult. Wind can also blow you offshore or onshore exposing you to the surf or a rocky razor-sharp shore,
- Wave Hazards – Large waves make capsizing more likely. During a tsunami warning, head out into deeper water, or get to shore and head for high ground,
- Surf Hazards – Avoid abrupt dumping surf – it can be extremely violent,
- Boomers – Always watch ahead for underwater rocks, plateaus, or shallows offshore – they can cause intermittent breakers,
- Tidal Currents – Underwater obstructions, headlands, narrows, and shallows – can combine with a tidal current to cause waves, eddies, boils, whirlpools, overfalls,
- Shipping Hazards – Never try to paddle across the path of a ship. Assume that other boats can’t see you,
- Fog – Without a compass or GPS, you could paddle in circles – keep the shore in sight at all times,
- Animal Hazards – Give wide berth to Polar Bears, Walrus, bull Elephant Seals and Sea Lions rookeries.
- Red Tide (Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning) – Avoid eating any clams, oysters, mussels, or scallops unless you are 100% sure they are not contaminated with red tide.
- Other Ocean Hazards – Tidal rips, rip currents, and shore currents. When on shore – tie off your boat and all equipment well above the high tide line.
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