Beyond Basics Courses
Paddle Australia Enclosed Sea Skills Qualification

The perfect stepping stone to paddling on your own sea kayak adventure with qualified and/or experienced team members of ECK. Consolidate all the skills covered in the Learn to Sea Kayak - Sea Starter Course and extend them in a safe and supportive environment.  

This program has been developed over many years – exploring the best of Australian paddling locations, we understand the needs of the clients that have undertaken our Sea Starter course, and what they feel they need in order to further their kayaking journey and gain Paddle Australia Qualifications. There is no set order; you can do whichever elements you believe would suit your needs or contact us to discuss.

• 2 Hours Advanced Strokes/Self Rescue & an introduction to the Kayak Roll - skills session with instructor, followed by a social paddle, based from Sandringham Harbour.

• Day Journeys – Kayak Victoria - so many possibilities! - minimum of 4 participants.

• 3 Day Expedition to one of Wilsons Prom/Snake Island, Gippsland Lakes, Lake Tyers, Lake Eildon – Minimum of 4 participants

Book online through the calendars below or scroll down for more information:

If you have you own equipment and it meets our standards, we like you to train and become familiar with your own equipment. We can organise kayak hire where necessary while you are deciding on the best craft for you.

From these three courses, paddlers will gain:

• an excellent grasp of the fundamental strokes and efficient techniques used in sea kayaking

• knowledge of how to paddle within a pod

• defensive paddling skills

• practical experience of self- and assisted-rescues and recoveries

• an appreciation of the effects of wind, swell, waves and tide

• navigation principles

• the ability to plan and prepare for paddling trips

• an understanding of sea kayak design and performance

• Paddle Australia qualifications

• knowledge to choose the right kayak to buy

2 Hours Advanced Strokes / Self Rescue –
An Introduction to the Kayak Roll

Consolidate your strokes, stability and self-rescue techniques learnt form the Sea Starter Course, extending yourself to advanced strokes and be introduced to the Kayak roll!

Continue your learning and practice in this group class - depending on conditions different skills will be practiced, so you can attend multiple times and practise different activities in a social, safe, fun and educational environment.

The 2 hours will be instructor assisted and you will be learning in a social environment with other paddlers. Following this you can go on a self-guided paddle with your group.

This class is a more social environment, compared to the one-on one training that we provide in the Private Tuition sessions.

• Meet at our Training Centre, 37 Jetty Road Sandringham

• Bring your own kayak and gear. Equipment hire (kayak, spray deck, pump & sponge, paddle life jacket) is included in the price but if you have your own kayak and gear it is best to use your own. Please let us know if you are bringing your own craft & gear so we can confirm it is suitable.

• Any additional rescue gear needed for each session will be communicated prior to the session (we have rescue gear available to buy).

Dates This Season

Day Journey – Kayak Victoria

Using your new-found knowledge of sea kayaking, winds, tides and charts you can plan and paddle your own trip with the help of our guides in the best locations close to Melbourne that Victoria have to offer!

Paddling destinations will usually be in an Enclosed Sea environment and Inland waters, but if the stars align on rare occasions we may venture into Coastal waters

You will learn:

• Route planning to compensate for tidal influence and weather conditions

• How to negotiate protruding land masses, constriction, shipping channels, effects of wind, tide ferry gliding – weather and location dependent

• Leadership skills for group management.

8:30am: Meet at a designated café to discuss weather, tides and formulate the route for the day, incorporating all these elements and arrange car shuffles. No trip is exactly the same and is tailored to forecast weather conditions and participant experience.

These day courses can also be counted towards your Paddle Australia Enclosed Sea Skills Qualification (follow the link for the requirements of this award). Once you have completed the requirements we can organise an assessment session at Sandringham (maintain your logbook in PA’s PaddleLog!).

Dates This Season

Please be aware that we ask participants to make their vehicle available to assist with car shuttles if necessary. 

Testimonials

Amazing

How awesome to put my skills to the test with the vast terrain of water that we encountered from Cape Paterson to Inverloch. I had never seen such beautiful landscapes and crystal clear water in Victoria. An amazing day's journey from preparation, execution, lunch and reaching the final destination. Can't wait to do another one!

- Alvin Feb 2016

An excellent paddle along the coast!

After an early planning session the decision was made to put in at Cape Patterson and paddle down to Inverloch in perfect weather conditions. 
After a civilised lunch at Eagle's Nest we continued on our way to Inverloch and into an exciting surf landing near the inlet entrance.

Roh has once again proven to be an excellent guide and teacher as he took us on a spectacular day's outing - continuing to educate each of us in person along the way.

I highly recommend this trips and will definitely be looking join future trips!

- James Feb 2016

An awesome paddle

We met at Hastings for coffee and a planning session before travelling to Point Leo for the launch. 15-20 knot NW winds and the ocean swell made it an interesting but enjoyable paddle. The trip around Sandy Point was exhilarating but under Rohan's guidance he showed that with a bit of observation and planning we had the skills to navigate through some very choppy seas. The final stretch at high tide among the mangroves to Stoney Point was delightful after the adrenaline rush of Sandy Point. Rohan was an excellent guide and instructor so we learnt a lot about navigation, paddling and group management.

I highly recommend this trip and will be looking to join future trips!

- Brian, April 2016

3 Day Expedition to Wilsons Prom/Snake Island or Gippsland Lakes

• planning a kayaking adventure; knowledge of waterproofing equipment, loading a sea kayak,

• understanding the clothing, equipment and provisions used in sea kayak expeditions

• understanding the principles of food preparation, menu planning and using portable stoves.

• Developing kayak camping skills - utilizing principles of minimum impact camping and using tarpaulins to provide shelters in sun or rain.

• route planning to compensate for tidal influence and weather conditions

• negotiating protruding land masses, constrictions, shipping channels, effects of wind and tide ferry gliding (weather dependent).

• developing leadership skills for group management.

What to Bring

Participants will need to bring:

• Personal kayaking equipment and camping equipment: sleeping bag, sleeping mat, rain jacket, rain pants, and 2 person tent. Hire of this equipment can be arranged at extra cost.

• Off-water clothes suitable for conditions (long pants, long sleeves)

• Insect repellant

• Food, water & snacks (self-catering) and stove / cooking / camp kitchen equipment 

Paddle Australia Qualification Scheme

This expedition can also be counted towards your Paddle Australia Enclosed Sea Skills Qualification (follow the link for the requirements of this award). Once you have completed the requirements we can organise an assessment session at Sandringham (maintain your logbook in PA’s PaddleLog!).

Dates This Season

Please be aware that we ask participants to make their vehicle available to assist with car shuttles if necessary. 

Below is one of the routes taken - weather dependent

Testimonials

Unforgettable Experience

Superbly organised and run by Rohan and Raia who gave freely of their huge knowledge and experience, we learnt navigation, chart reading, tides, currents, how to pack a kayak and what to take on an expedition, beautiful scenery, fun camping, Rohan and Raia made sure we had fun, were safe and took care of everything, very professional and a must experience for any lover of kayaking

- Doron March 2016

Great confidence builder

I've only had my new kayak since jan, and during this course I could put it through its paces with the confidence that being in a group with experienced instructors would not allow me to do by myself. I've also learnt how to pack my kayak and what to take and what not to take on overnight trips. Along with that, was learning the essential reading and planning of my trip in conjunction to tides and sea levels, wind and even sun verses cloud cover! I enjoyed this course so much, I think it's a must do for owners or non owners of kayaks. Everyday was a ten out of ten day for me.

- Sharon March 2016

OUTCOMES & RESULTS

Paddlers finish the course with the following:

• an excellent grasp of the fundamental strokes and efficient techniques used in sea kayaking

• knowledge of how to paddle within a pod

• defensive paddling skills

• practical experience of self- and assisted-rescues and recoveries

• an appreciation of the effects of tide and wind

• navigation principles

• the ability to plan and prepare for paddling trips

• an understanding of sea kayak design and performance

• knowledge to choose the right boat to buy

REASONS TO ENROL

• Become a better paddler, faster – Good instruction means you can gain skills in two days that would take so much longer to gain on your own.

• Increase your confidence – learning how to competently perform self-rescue techniques and basic sea kayaking rescues allows you to explore further and fear less. Day tripping is fun, but multi-day expeditions open up a whole new world of exciting possibilities!

• Learn right – start with good habits and avoid having to get rid of bad habits later on.

• Grow together: learning to paddle within a group is a supportive and fun educational environment.

• Test your skills – While you can learn from books and DVDs, there is no substitute for time spent actually on the water.

• Pure enjoyment – good skills mean you can have more fun on the water