The first 2 courses in the Coastal Kayaking Curriculum depend upon your preferences of kayak, your choices of waterway, and your pace of learning. Each of the first four courses are either stand-alone or can be taken in a sequence. (QuickStart Your Kayak, Introduction to Kayak, Essentials of Kayak Touring and Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes & Rescues)
The subsequent courses are meant to augment these core courses. As a newcomer to this program, focus on the first four and examine the details of gear, recommended destinations, and time involved. But also take note that many of the augmentation courses recommend or require the fourth course, Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes and Rescues, as a pre-requisite.
Level 2 Coastal Kayak Courses
Essentials of Kayak Touring is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the types designated as sit on top, folding, inflatable and "recreational." There is more emphasis on practicing a simple rescue sequence, understanding the very basics of tides and currents, use of a compass (safety bearing), rules for paddling in channels with and without boat traffic, use of VHF radio and weather radio and other emergency equipment. The graduates should stay within swimming distance of shore in areas with no conditions such as wind, waves, or current.
Level 3 Coastal Kayak Courses
Coastal Kayak Basic Strokes & Rescues is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation. There is more emphasis on self-rescue and assisted-rescue techniques and the stability strokes are introduced. Also, Rules of the Navigable Road, tides and currents, wind and waves, emergency equipment, use of VHF radios and weather radios, understanding charts and basic use of a compass are covered in more depth. Graduates should be capable of paddling up to half mile off shore with mild conditions such as light and variable winds, up to one foot of wind chop, and current speeds up to 1 knot.
Kayak Rolling is a 2-6-hour course that is designed to by used with river and sea kayak hard shell, closed-deck designs. Students will learn the fundamental components of the roll and improve their bracing skills.
Coastal Kayak Strokes & Maneuvers Refinement is a 7-8-hour course to assist students at all levels in refining their strokes and maneuvers in a sea kayak with bulk heads or flotation. Graduates of this course may desire to re-take the course at any time to further refine techniques such as style, bracing, low/high brace turns, bow rudder, side slips and stern rudder.
Coastal Kayak Traditional Skills is an 8-hour course designed to introduce students to the techniques used in kayaks by Arctic peoples. The course is limited to sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation in calm conditions. The skills to be covered are unlimited rolling, stroke techniques, and history of kayaking.
Level 4 Coastal Kayak Courses
Coastal Kayak Open Water Skills is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to travel safely and efficiently by kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation, including some introductory navigation, boat lean and edging, introduction to kayak maneuvers and open water rescues. Graduates of this course should be capable of paddling up to one mile off shore with some moderate conditions but not white caps or current speeds beyond 2 knots. (prerequisite required)
Coastal Kayak Navigation is in development but will likely be an 8-hour course to be taken in combination with the Basic and Open Water courses designed for sea kayaks. Students will learn navigation principles to help them plan longer day trips on waterways that are covered by nautical charts, rules of the road, and coastal buoyage.
Coastal Kayak Surf Zone is a 7-8-hour course designed to help students learn to launch and land safely through waves up to 3 feet high in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation. Graduates of this course will be introduced to the nomenclature and personal experience of the surf zone, timing, and side-surfing techniques. (prerequisite required)
Coastal Kayak Tidal Currents is a 7-8-hour course that focuses on estimating, reading, and maneuvering in currents up to 4 knots caused by tidal exchange around coastal contours in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation. Students will be introduced to the process of reading tide prediction charts, studying the water, and controlling the kayak in strong flow. (prerequisite required)
Level 5 Coastal Kayak Courses
Coastal Kayak Rough Water Maneuvering & Towing is an eight-hour course focused on helping the student learn to handle a kayak of the type designated as a sea kayak with bulkheads or flotation in challenging conditions. Skills will include but not be limited to a variety of rescue techniques and towing, maneuvering the sea kayak in the wind. Graduates of this class may be capable of handling sea conditions including white caps, waves to three feet, and currents to 5 knots. (prerequisite required)
Coastal Kayak Advanced Surf Zone is a 7-8-hour course designed to introduce the concepts of reading and surfing waves up to 4 feet high in sea kayaks with bulk heads or flotation or kayaks of the kind called whitewater or surf kayaks or even sit on tops with thigh straps. Students will be introduced to surf etiquette, wave selection, positioning and maneuvers in the surf. (Pre-requiste required)
Coastal Kayak Assessments
Coastal Kayaking Day-Trip Leading Assessment is intended to provide the minimum skills and training necessary for an adult leader possessing basic paddling skills (see prerequisite below) to lead a trip for participants with beginner level paddling skills, in gentle conditions, with apparent wind not exceeding 10 kts, waves not exceeding 1 foot and currents to 2 kts. The emphasis of this course is trip leading, safety education and rescue, not paddling instruction. The content is relevant for clubs, camps, scouts and other entities providing trips. This is an Assessment Course with a written Examination, administered by a CK Instructor Trainer. Those desiring certification to teach kayak paddling should get ACA Instructor Certifications.
Coastal Kayak Skills Assessments are designed to offer participants the opportunity to receive documentation of their achieving a level of paddling skills. Ideal for seasonal camp staff and waterfront lifeguards who do not need instructor certification but do need to show proficiency in kayak skills for employment and safety.
CK Skills Assessment - Level 1
CK Skills Assessment - Level 2
CK Skills Assessment - Level 3
CK Skills Assessment - Level 4
Become an ACA Instructor
ACA Instructor Coastal Kayaking Certifications are awarded at five levels:
Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking (not discipline specific)
Level 2: Essentials of Kayak Touring
Level 3: Coastal Kayaking
Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking
Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking
Each level requires a more advanced understanding of:
safety awareness
general technical knowledge
paddling skills
teaching skills
Each level requires:
Completion of a course of instruction at the same skill level or higher
Successful completion of an Instructor Development Workshop (IDW)
Successful completion of an Instructor Certification Exam (ICE)
The purpose of the IDW is to help instructor candidates learn how to effectively teach safety and canoeing skills.
The purpose of the ICE is to evaluate the candidate in each of the above areas.
(For more information on IDWs and ICEs see "Instructor Criteria" and contact the Instructor Trainer / Educator of the course you are considering)
Coastal Kayaking Curriculum Overview
For specific Coastal Kayaking Instructor Criteria, please click the INSTRUCTOR RESOURCES link at the bottom of the page.
Coastal Kayak Instructor Endorsements
Adaptive Paddling
Other Links
Instructor Resources
