Sea Kayaking Safety - Ibiza

When sea kayaking, there are several factors to keep in mind for your own safety. Below you will find our tips for safe sea kayaking.

We always carry out safety checks before each excursion. If you join our excursions or rent a kayak at Kayak-Ibiza, we can talk it through when we meet! Our number one priority is safety (and then fun), which is why we want to share with you our safety tips for kayaking in Ibiza.

1.Check the weather conditions

Here in Ibiza we check the swell, the wind and the local weather forecast. We use Windguru, Aemet, Windfinder and the specialised 3-day map forecasts you can find on Los Puertos del Estado. We are always looking for calm conditions when we go kayaking. We avoid wind and waves. For beginners, we recommend heading out only in good weather. If there is a light wind, we recommend starting the route into the wind, so it is easier to get back. Be ready to postpone your excursion because of the weather! Don't worry, though, there will soon be another chance on another day. As we work in a natural environment, we have to adapt to the weather conditions of the day. Luckily Ibiza is a small island, so we can usually find stable spots on the opposite side of the island to shelter from bad weather. We check the weather for the day before, the day of the route and the following day to analyse how it will affect each area of the island. In the Balearics we don't have to check tide times because here the tidal movement is minimal, which means there is no need to study tidal currents before planning a route. We will be happy to help you check the weather forecast on the day of your excursion. Just ask us!

2. Trip plan

We recommend always letting someone know your trip plan. What time you are leaving, the route you will take and when you will be back. That way, if necessary, this person can alert the emergency services if they don't hear from you. You should also consider the route you want to take. The distance, approximate times, and possible escape routes where a car can reach you or where you can get out on foot. Stay close to the coast. The closer you are to land, the easier it will be to get out of the water if needed!

3. Carry a mobile phone with you

We recommend carrying a fully charged mobile phone with you in case you need to call someone for help. You can keep your phone dry in a dry bag or in a special waterproof phone case. A dry bag is an important part of your kit to keep important items dry.

4. Life jacket and the right clothing.

It is important to always wear a life jacket while kayaking. As well as the right clothing for the weather and time of year you are kayaking in. Depending on your location, the gear will be different. Here in Ibiza during winter, the water temperature is around 14 degrees at its lowest, the air temperature can be about 8 degrees on a cold day - 14 on a warm day (bear in mind that at night it can drop below 0). During the day we wear neoprene shorts, neoprene boots (2 or 3 mm), a long-sleeved thermal lycra top and a waterproof / windproof kayak jacket. During summer, the water temperature can reach 27 degrees and the air temperature can reach 30 degrees. We wear sun protection (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen), a long-sleeved SPF top, shorts, summer boots. We only kayak in the morning or the afternoon, avoiding the midday sun. Also, stay hydrated! It is important to keep drinking water.

5. Take a sea kayaking course

We recommend everyone take an introductory course before kayaking in open water. It is important to get familiar with your kayak and the gear before going paddling. The course teaches basic sea kayaking techniques, how to paddle efficiently, self-rescue, assisted rescues, and you will learn many other important tips from a sea kayaking guide (such as the best position in the kayak and essentials to take with you).

6. Go kayaking with someone

There is safety in numbers! If you are with a friend, you can both look out for each other during the excursion. If you can't go with anyone, at least let someone know your trip plan. When kayaking in a group, it is important to stay together. Especially if you are with a qualified guide, who is there to react in adverse conditions.

These are our tips for a safe kayaking experience. If you need a hand planning your kayaking trip in Ibiza, don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We are happy to share our tips and offer our daily support via WhatsApp with weather updates and tracking.

21 - 03 - 2022, Lauren R Young