Recently there seems to be a lot of internet posting and articles about kayak safety and many in the sea kayak community being overtly safety conscious. I understand every individual is entitled to their opinion on safety and can
As a commercial kayak tour operator on San Juan Island I feel a
Many old school operators will tout their time in business or even say they have a “perfect safety record”. This is all a matter of how
All of this falls in line with the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Below are a few short rules as it might apply to a kayaker.
“Many kayakers never take a kayaking course, because everything seems so easy. The main problem is that you’re setting yourself up to experience the Dunning-Kruger effect. Just read the four points below about the D-K, and I shouldn’t need to say more.”
1. Incompetent individuals tend to overestimate their own level of skill.
2. Incompetent individuals fail to recognize genuine skill in others.
3. Incompetent individuals fail to recognize the extremity of their inadequacy.
4. If they can be trained to substantially improve their own skill level, these individuals can recognize and acknowledge their own previous lack of skill.
When choosing a commercial kayak tour keep a few things in mind. Always pay attention to images on marketing cards and websites. Images provide more information on the second look. See if the images seem to follow common sense protocols such as all kayakers wearing life vest or do the guides seem properly dressed for the environment. These are true red flags when selecting a reputable outfitter. If for any reason you raise an eyebrow and question anything you see on a tour operators website from photos to text, call and ask. You should always feel comfortable and respected for asking questions.
My goal in writing this article is to help separate personal kayakers from commercial kayaking standards. As an individual I feel, if properly educated of the dangers, you can decide on the level of risk you are willing take. But I strongly feel as a commercial kayak tour operator the highest level of safety and training must be adhere’ed to. When you are responsible for someones safety and they have put you in charge of that task, safety should be priority one.
Joining a kayak tour should be a fun experience, but you never know what might happen once you are in mother natures world. Being with a properly trained and well prepared kayak guide can make the difference in your overall enjoyment and safety.
When selecting your San Juan Island kayak trip, consider Discovery Sea Kayaks. We pride ourselves on the level of training and experience of our staff.