Water Adventure Safety Guide

Water adventure activities are a popular attraction for both independent travellers and locals in New Zealand. Water sports such as kayaking and rafting are a lot fun, however it’s important that you’re equipped with general river safety information to prevent any serious injury.

General river safety

The following hazards apply to all river sports and can ultimately lead to hypothermia or drowning. Reading about these hazards is easy. Recognising and dealing with them safely requires skills that take time and experience to develop. Beginners should join a club and/or go paddling with experienced people.

Whirlpools

A whirlpool has a downwards-moving vortex (spiral) of water in its centre. If you can’t swim out of it then the theory is to follow the water down into the vortex, possibly by diving, to be spat out downstream a few seconds later.

Rocks

If you capsize in a rapid there is a good chance that you’ll hit rocks while speeding along underwater. To avoid serious head injury, a helmet should always be worn. Being pinned against or wrapped around a rock (or log) by the current is a paddler’s worst nightmare. Lean downstream, grab the rock and get out of your kayak immediately. This is a very serious situation - yell out to the others in your group straight away.

Trees and Log Jams

Because of their frequently changing position in the river and ease with which they can trap you, trees and log jams are an insidious danger. Trees that drag their branches in the river can easily be spotted, and should be avoided like the plague. Logs carried down and jammed across the river by floods are less obvious and therefore more dangerous hazards. At worst they form a submerged mesh that lets water pass through but sieves out paddlers.

Stoppers

Stoppers are large waves, formed at the bottom of a drop, that break back on themselves. As the name suggests they can stop you from moving down river. Approach them at full speed and you should break through. If not, then paddle sideways to the edge of the stopper or, as a last resort, dive deep. The water under a stopper will carry you downstream.

Approaching Rapids

Never paddle down a rapid blind. If you can’t see all of a rapid before entering it, then get out of the river and scout it out thoroughly. This will give you the best chance of avoiding the hazards mentioned above. If you have any doubts about the safety of the rapid you should portage it.

General safety equipment

Wetsuit and helmets

We recommend wearing a wetsuit for all river sports: they keep you warm, buoyant and provide cushioning when bumping into rocks. Cheap ones can be bought secondhand. The armless and hoodless variety provide more flexibility for kayaking. A helmet should always be worn in case you hit your head on an underwater obstacle after capsizing.

Life jackets and bouyancy vests

Apart from keeping you floating the right way up, a well fitting life jacket is comfortable and provides some protection against bashing into rocks if you are swept down a rapid. You should attach a whistle to your life jacket.

Throwline

A 20 metre length of rope is often essential for hauling people out of eddies, stoppers and whirlpools. Polyproylene rope is best as it floats. Ready made throwlines can be bought from some specialist outdoor shops.