Paddlesport Safety and Rescue Course

Paddling’s easy when everyone stays upright — but the real learning starts when someone takes a swim, loses their paddle, or drifts off in the wind. The Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course (PSRC) builds the confidence and practical skills to deal with those moments safely and effectively. It’s all about understanding what to do when things don’t go to plan, keeping everyone safe and the session on track.

This 1-day practical course follows the official Paddle UK syllabus, combining hands-on rescue practice with simple safety and group management. You’ll learn techniques that work across different craft (kayak, canoe, and SUP where available) and gain the foundations for future leadership or instructor training.

When & Where

📍 Location: Usually the Beaulieu River / River Hamble / South Coast sheltered venues (we’ll confirm the best venue for conditions)

📆 Availability: Scheduled course dates through the season + private bookings on request

⏱ Duration: 1 day (09:30–16:00 approx.)

💷 Price: £95 per person (private / club dates available – ask for a quote)

How to Book

✅ Book online: Choose your PSRC date on the Liquid calendar

💬 Can’t see a date? Drop us a message and we’ll set up a course around your diary

👥 Clubs / centres / staff teams: We can deliver PSRC at your venue for your paddlers

What Happens on the Day

You’ll spend a full day on sheltered water working through practical rescue scenarios in a relaxed, hands-on way. The focus is on simple techniques that actually work in real paddling situations — whether you’re rescuing yourself, helping a mate, or managing a small group.

During the day you’ll cover:

Self-rescues – getting yourself back in or on your craft
Rescuing others from your boat or the bank
Emptying and returning boats to paddlers
Safe approaches to swimmers and capsized craft
Simple towing methods for short distances
Using throwlines, slings and improvised aids
Managing the group after a rescue
Choosing and using safety kit effectively
Quick chats and reflection after each scenario

By the end of the day, you’ll have a clear, repeatable process for keeping yourself and others safe on the water.

Ideal For

Paddlers exploring lakes, rivers, or estuaries
Parents, club paddlers, or activity assistants
Anyone planning to take the Paddlesport Instructor course
Paddlers who want to be the safe, confident one in the group
No prerequisites — just be happy paddling on sheltered water and ready to get wet

What’s Included

1 full day of practical coaching (approx. 6 hours)
Rescue techniques for kayak, canoe, and SUP
Self, bank, and boat-based rescues
Kit and equipment advice
Course completion statement for Paddle UK PSRC
Experienced Liquid coach and small group ratios

Certification & Next Steps

On successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a Paddle UK Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course certificate — recognised across the UK as the standard for safe paddling in sheltered water environments.

It’s a fantastic standalone course for any paddler, but also forms the ideal foundation before stepping up to the Paddlesport Instructor or Paddlesport Leader awards. You’ll finish the day with the skills and confidence to handle most everyday situations on the water — and a clear sense of where to go next in your paddlesport journey.

Do I need any experience?
No formal prerequisites — just be comfortable paddling on sheltered water and ready to get wet.
Do I need my own boat?
You can bring your own or use ours — we’ve got kayaks, canoes and some SUPs available. Just let us know what you’ll need when booking.
Is it assessed or just training?
It’s a training and participation-based course — there’s no pass or fail. You’ll receive a Paddle UK PSRC certificate at the end of the day.
Will I be practising rescues in all types of craft?
Yes, where available you’ll get the chance to try kayak, canoe and SUP rescues, but we tailor the day to suit what’s most relevant to you.
Is this the same as a white water rescue course?
No, this course focuses on sheltered water. If you’re heading into moving or white water, you’ll want the White Water Safety & Rescue course next.
Can you run this for clubs or staff teams?
Absolutely — we can deliver PSRC for clubs, centres or small groups at your venue. Just get in touch to arrange a date.

Came on the 3 hour sea kayaking introduction. Had a great time, achieved all that I expected and more, always love courses so much more when the instructor's are obviously passionate about what they do.

Had a lovely 3 hour kayak tuition session on the river at Beaulieu today. Ellen, our instructor, kitted us out and went through the basics before getting us on the water. We were a group of 4 adults with little or no experience of kayaks or canoes and Ellen very quickly had us paddling forwards, turning left and right and stopping etc. We were guided along the river, learning about the local wildlife and history of this beautiful setting. A really relaxing experience with an engaging instructor and pretty good weather to boot! Highly recommend!

Great session covered everything we needed to get going, enjoy lots of adventures since then. Instructor Leander was amazing, the session was well paced and so useful!

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