Paddle UK Advanced White Water Safety & Rescue Course

The Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue Course is designed for paddlers who want to develop their safety and rescue skills in advanced whitewater environments. With over a decade of delivery, our founder Andrew has played a significant role in shaping rescue techniques that work in real-life situations. This two-day course will build on your existing White Water Safety and Rescue (WWS) skills, equipping you with practical, safe, and effective techniques you can confidently use on the river.

Our experienced instructors, all with years of working in advanced whitewater conditions, will guide you through the Paddle UK Advanced White Water Safety Course syllabus. The focus will be on improving your understanding of risk management, incident response, and proactive decision-making in high-stress environments. This course is designed to give you confidence in both leading and managing rescue situations on Grade 4/5 rivers.

Key Details

• Duration: 2 days of practical safety and rescue training
• Location: Based in Devon (specific rivers selected based on conditions)
• Skill Level: For advanced paddlers who are comfortable in Grade 3/4 whitewater and looking to refine their safety and rescue techniques

Course Breakdown

The Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue Course focuses on developing and reinforcing key rescue skills needed for advanced whitewater environments.

Here’s what you can expect to cover over the two days:

• Personal Rescue Skills: Enhance your ability to self-rescue and rescue others using practical, tried-and-tested techniques. You'll learn how to assess situations quickly and react efficiently to minimise risk.
• Group Rescue and Leadership: Learn to manage group rescues, handle multiple paddlers in distress, and make swift decisions in rapidly changing environments.
• Throwbag Techniques and Rope Work: Master advanced throwbag use and rope techniques to handle rescues in challenging water conditions.
• Swimmer Recovery: Practice advanced swimmer recovery techniques in fast-moving water, including how to deal with conscious and unconscious paddlers.
• Incident Management: Gain an understanding of how to manage on-water incidents effectively, from initial response to debrief and recovery. We’ll focus on proactive leadership, communication, and managing rescue scenarios safely.
• Safety and Risk Management: Understand the principles of safety management in an advanced whitewater setting, focusing on hazard identification, decision-making, and dynamic risk assessment.

This course will be run in real river environments, ensuring that you gain experience and confidence in using these skills under realistic conditions.

Location

The course will be held in Devon, with specific rivers chosen based on water levels and suitability for advanced whitewater training. Locations may include iconic Grade 4/5 rivers in Devon and surrounding areas, providing the perfect environment to practice advanced rescue techniques.

Prerequisites

To take this course, you’ll need to:

• Be confident paddling in Grade 3/4 rivers.
• Have a solid foundation in basic whitewater safety and rescue techniques.
• Be physically capable of handling rescue scenarios in fast-moving water.
• Ideally, have already completed a White Water Safety and Rescue course or have equivalent experience.

Why Choose Us

We pride ourselves on providing top-quality training that is both practical and rooted in real-world experience. Here’s why you should choose us for your Advanced White Water Safety and Rescue training:

• Expert Instruction: Led by Andrew, a Paddle UK Level 5 Inland Coach with over 25 years of experience in sea, surf, and inland paddling. Andrew’s unique expertise in river running and rescue operations ensures you receive training that is both technically sound and highly practical.
• Real-World Focus: We bring a decade of hands-on experience in advanced whitewater rescue, teaching techniques that work in real-life situations. This is not just about theory—we focus on what’s effective in the unpredictable world of whitewater paddling.
• Proven Track Record: Many of our students have gone on to lead successful trips and rescue operations worldwide. Our course is designed to give you the skills and confidence to operate safely and effectively in the most challenging conditions.
• Personalised Coaching: Our training is tailored to your needs, ensuring that you leave with the skills and knowledge you need to manage rescue situations confidently. We provide continuous feedback and adjust the training to suit your specific goals.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the skills and understanding necessary to handle rescue scenarios in Grade 4/5 environments, making you a more effective and confident paddler and leader.