This is where it starts, whether you've never been in a kayak or you've been paddling for years without formal training. Two days on the water with experienced coaches who'll teach you the strokes, rescues, and trip-planning skills that make paddling safe, efficient, and worth building on. No gear to own, no experience assumed.

Already paddle? Level 1 fills the gaps that self-teaching leaves behind: stroke mechanics, rescue technique, and the safety foundations that every certification above this one builds on. It's not about starting over. It's about starting properly so the progression that follows actually works.

By the end, you'll know how to handle a sea kayak, get yourself back in after a capsize, and plan a day trip that doesn't rely on luck. You'll also have access to our online learning dashboard, a hybrid system that extends your learning before, during, and long after the course.