The aim of this website is to create a transparent and clear overview of I.S.K.G.A Sea Kayak Guides, Module providers and observers.

The profile pages represent the guides historical paddling/expedition career/experience, as supplied to the web site co-ordinator of I.S.K.G.A – by the guide. I.S.K.G.A accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies in the information held within the guides profile page.

If the title beneath the guides profile picture indicates that he/she is an I.S.K.G.A Registered Guide, it means that he/she is using the website for advertising purposes only. That they have registered themselves with the I.S.K.G.A but they have not been trained, approved or observed by any individual within I.S.K.G.A in any way. The information within Registered Guides profiles has not been validated by any individual within I.S.K.G.A and is portrayed only for the purpose of supporting the profile of the individual and to that end, the supporting certification that has been supplied by that person, may be included as an attachment in the right hand column of his/her qualifications table.  We encourage registered guides to undertake a personal action plan in undertaking and pursuing through the ISKGA Modules and Training Scheme. This shows their interest and commitment to be a more up to date and professional commercial guide.

The cost to register with ISKGA is £50.00 per year

If the title below the guides profile picture indicates that he/she is an I.S.K.G.A Coastal Guide – it means that he/she has completed all of the generic I.S.K.G.A coastal modules and has been recommended by his/her trainer to go forward for an ‘Observation’. He/she has then gone forward for an ‘Observation’ as approved by I.S.K.G.A and has been ‘Observed’ by two I.S.K.G.A Observers and was deemed at the time of his/her observation to be able to complete the I.S.K.G.A Coastal Guide syllabus at a satisfactory level.

Alternatively, due to previous experience or awards from various organisations, the Coastal Guide may have been approved at the ‘Coastal Guide’ Level by the technical committee of I.S.K.G.A

A ‘Provisional’ status will be applied if a guide, when they pass through the observation process shows they are deficient in commercial or Coastal environment expeditions. This Status indicated by a (P) will be removed when evidence of a log book showing 42 expedition days is provided or after a probationary period of 18 months of commercial guiding has been completed.

After this probationary time period of 18 months has occurred the ISKGA Coastal/Advanced guide can start to mentor others, up to their guide level, passing on their experiences. Only two trainees can be mentored at any one time and these trainee guides will need to be registered on the ISKGA system.

After the successful completion of four candidates at ‘Observation’ Level’ the title ‘Module Provider’ will be added to the guides profile.

If the title below the guides profile picture indicates that he/she is an I.S.K.G.A Advanced Guide – it means that he/she has completed all of the generic I.S.K.G.A Advanced modules and has been recommended by his/her trainer to go forward for an ‘Observation’. He/she has then gone forward for an ‘Observation’ as approved by  I.S.K.G.A and has been ‘Observed’ by an I.S.K.G.A Observer and was deemed at the time of his/her observation to be able to complete the I.S.K.G.A Advanced Guide syllabus at a satisfactory level.

Alternatively, due to previous experience or awards from various organisations, the Advanced Guide may have been approved at the ‘Advanced Guide’ Level by the technical committee of I.S.K.G.A

A ‘Provisional’ status will be applied if a guide, when they pass through the observation process shows they are deficient in commercial or Advanced environment expeditions. This Status indicated by a (P) can be removed when evidence of a log book shows 42 expedition days is provided or after a probationary period of 18 months of commercial guiding has been completed.

After this probationary time period of 18 months has occurred the ISKGA Coastal/Advanced guide can start to mentor others, up to their guide level, passing on their experiences. Only two trainees can be mentored at any one time and these trainee guides will need to be registered on the ISKGA system.

After the successful completion of four candidates at ‘Observation’ Level’ the title ‘Module Provider’ will be added to the guides profile.

If the title below the Guides profile picture indicates that he/she is an I.S.K.G.A Coastal/Advanced Module Provider. It means that, that person is and has been a guide at that level for a minimum of 18 months , has completed in a leadership role no less than six commercial expeditions in a variety of wilderness areas and that the provider has previous experience in the role of a trainer or has completed the I.S.K.G.A trainers course. Alternatively the Provider may have achieved his/her providers status by successfully mentoring four candidates through to the successful outcome of a Guide Observation.

After a probationary time period of 18 months the ISKGA Coastal and Advanced Guide can start to train others, up to their guide level, passing on their experiences. Only two trainees can be mentored at any time, after the successful completion of four candidates at ‘Observation level’

If the I.S.K.G.A Provider feels that he/she does not have the best ability to deliver certain modules of the syllabus, he/she can contract in, outside modular trainers to assist in the delivery of these modules, this ensures best practise for his or her trainee’s and can still be deemed fit to be a registered I.S.K.G.A Provider so long as this is declared openly and that the provider is transparent about this. To this end the I.S.K.G.A provider is co-ordinating the trainee’s syllabus and acting as mentor to his /her trainee’s. The I.S.K.G.A Provider must be able to deliver all of the sea kayaking related topics.

The Approved Prior Learning status can be applied for as ISKGA recognises skill levels and experience that exists within the Sea Kayaking community, and is happy to APL guides across and into the ISKGA framework. However for a guide to become  a full module provider they must of attended, all of the generic modules or show sufficient evidence and have experience of delivering the generic subjects to a high standard, if this is not evident, the APL’d guide must attend the ISKGA Trainers course to fully identify with the system requirements, until this has been completed a provisional (P) status shall be applied.

The I.S.K.G.A Observer is an appointed position only and he/she has been appointed by the I.S.K.G.A technical team. He/she has an extensive knowledge of sea kayak guiding, coaching and understands the syllabus intimately. He/she will understand the methods by which the observation process should be conducted and be fully able to assume control of the group at any time.

The ‘Observation’ Process is an intensive and thorough process, the candidate wishing to go forwards for an Observation must first of all speak with his/her trainer and gain a ‘Trainers Recommendation’, the trainer will then apply on behalf of the candidate for the Observation process to begin.

Alternatively the trainee, if having worked through his/her workbook utilising a series of trainers, can apply directly to ISKGA for an approval to go forward for Observation, to do this the work book must be sent through to ISKGA HQ along with the trainees Log book where a decision will then be made by the ISKGA Technical committee or chairman to approve that the Observation can take place.

Once these requirements have been completed, the trainee candidate will then be provided with dates for the next available Observation and shall receive the Observation diagnostic test paper.

The Observation is conducted over a three days (including two night paddling periods), is overseen by a Course director and is conducted by two ISKGA Observers, working independently of each other.

At the end of the three days, the commercial clients who have volunteered to assist on the Observation will complete a questionnaire which is aimed at delivering a ‘Client’s perspective’ on the candidates performance, the Observers shall then meet with the Course director and the results shall be determined between the Observers notes and the clients feedback, this process shall be under the guidance of the course director.

An I.S.K.G.A Registered centre, means that the business advertising on that web page is using the website for advertising purposes only. That they have registered themselves with the I.S.K.G.A but that business has not been trained, approved or observed by any individual within I.S.K.G.A – in any way. The information within Registered Centre pages, has not been validated by any individual within I.S.K.G.A and is portrayed only for the purpose of supporting the profile of the business and to that end, the supporting certification that has been supplied by that business. The products which are being run through that business have not been approved or validated by any other member of I.S.K.G.A or by its technical committee. The cost to register your centre with ISKGA is £200.00 (annual fee).

An I.S.K.G.A Authorised Centre is a centre which has been inspected by members of the I.S.K.G.A technical committee and have been approved as a centre of excellence. An I.S.K.G.A Authorised Centre will run a variety of wilderness expeditions utilising guides who have completed the I.S.K.G.A guide training. The I.S.K.G.A Authorised Centre may also provide the full six week guide training programme for sea kayakers wishing to enter into the world of commercial sea kayak guiding as well as an array of other courses. An ISKGA Authorised centre must employ at least one ISKGA full time guide at the appropriate level for the courses they offer through that centre. The cost to become an authorised centre with ISKGA is £400.00 (annual fee).

Sea Kayaks

I.S.K.G.A recommends that all sea kayaks used by ISKGA Sea Kayak Guides are manufactured in accordance with the home nations manufacturing laws and that they meet all health and safety criteria as applicable to the nation in which they are operating, that these sea kayaks are in good condition and suitable for the client base they are working for.

Further recommendations to manufacturers are that, at the point of sale, a written and verbal recommendation is made to the purchaser that they seek professional tuition from a recognised and qualified instructor before use.

That the purchaser registers their kayak with the coast guard or appropriate authority.

Outfitting

The sea kayak should be fitted with Toggles which extend beyond the bow and stern of the sea kayak and that these toggles are free of any loops through which fingers can become trapped and injured.

That the sea kayak has water tight bulkheads and hatch covers to prevent flooding during a capsize or rescue, if the sea kayak is not fitted with hatches or bulkheads, that the sea kayak has adequate buoyancy to prevent flooding and that this buoyancy is fitted well enough that it does not float away from the sea kayak during a capsize and rescue, it is also recommended that sea socks are used in this instance to prevent water flooding beyond the cockpit position.

The sea kayak should be designed where it is able to counter the effects of wind, this may be through appropriate hull design, the fitting of a mechanical or permanent skeg or a rudder system.

The sea kayak should be manufactured where all through deck fittings are recessed and that the sea kayak has suitable deck lines both fore and aft of the cockpit position, the sea kayak should also have deck elastics to store essential safety items beneath, such as spare paddles and bilge pumps.

It is a strong recommendation that all sea kayaks are fitted with a water proof storage compartment where other safety items can be safely stored and accessed whilst afloat, with enough volume to carry items such as distress & signal flares, emergency food, first aid equipment, repair equipment, emergency hatch covers, emergency shelters, water, VHF radios and other signalling devices such as PLB’s and EPIRBS.

I.S.K.G.A Technical Advisors have been selected for their specialist knowledge and practical experience in the below listed areas of expertise.

Technical advisors, offer advise and guidance to the I.S.K.G.A technical team and are a valuable resource for other I.S.K.G.A members to reference to.

They offer guidance in the following areas:

First Aid (Paul Cahill, Anna Shekdar, Roderick Dunn)

Sea Safety (Dave Whiddon)

Sea Survival (Dave Whiddon)

Expedition Skills (Hefin Jones, Jim Bonney)

Hostile Environments (Hefin Jones)

Leadership (Nick Arding, Jim Bonney)

Environmental Module (Dr Lou Luddington)

Paddling in Ice (Martin Rickard)

Winter Paddling & survival skills (Matt Larsson Clifford)