Image: Birds eye view of sea and four sea kayakers paddling across the sea.

General Aims

The Sea Kayak Level 3 Explorer Award aims to enable participants to:

  • Join a group of peers on a day-long trip.
  • Plan a trip incorporating weather, navigation and tidal information.
  • Assist a suitably qualified sea kayaker in group management and rescues.
  • Have the skills to safely manage my kayak on coastal trips in L3 conditions.
  • Launch and land in small surf.
  • Self rescue unassisted from a capsize in deep water.
  • Understand the effects on the sea kayak of wind, wave, tide, and coastal features.
  • Summon outside rescue assistance.
  • Understand the paddlers effect on the environment and wildlife.
  • Can identify the next step involved in the Canoeing Ireland Sea Kayak Skills Awards.

Attendance Requirements

Requirements for attending a Level 3 Sea Kayak Skills assessment:

Training Course:

  • Sea Kayak Level 2 Peer Award Certificate (mandatory requirement or Approved Prior Learning).
  • Obtain a Canoeing Ireland Sea Kayak L3 Explorer Award Paddler Profile from lower down on this page or from their instructor.
  • Be at least 12 years of age
  • The paddler is required to be able to demonstrate all knowledge and skills from lower levels, and at a higher standard than that required for the preceding level.
  • For paddlers U-18 it is recommended that these paddlers be supervised by a person over the age of 18 who has suitable experience.

      Level 3 Conditions

      Coastal features: Coastal areas within 1 nautical mile of shore. Launching and landing from beaches with no greater than 0.5m broken waves.
      Wind (Beaufort): F0-3
      Sea state (Met Éireann): Slight (0.5 – 1.25m significant wave height)
      Surf: ≤ 0.5m broken waves
      Flow: Tidal streams and overfalls of less than 2kn
      Open crossings: N/A

      Course Documents