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Be prepared when things go wrong.
A hands-on, two-day swiftwater rescue course designed for kayakers, raft guides, river guides and other whitewater paddlers who want the practical skills and judgment to respond effectively to emergencies on moving water. Train with Andrey Coto, ACA Swiftwater Rescue Instructor and ACA Level 4 Whitewater Kayak Instructor, with more than 20 years of international river experience. This is an active course built around real practice—not classroom theory. Participants learn how to recognize hazards, manage risk, swim effectively in current, use throw ropes, perform shore- and boat-based rescues, recover equipment, deal with pins and entrapments, and work as part of an organized rescue team. Throughout the course, skills are combined into realistic scenarios where participants must assess the situation, communicate, choose an appropriate rescue strategy and act efficiently. The objective is simple: Become a safer river user and a more capable member of any paddling team.
This is an ACA Level 4 Swiftwater Rescue Skills Course, not an Instructor Certification Workshop. The course involves swimming, rope work and physically active rescue scenarios in moving water. Participants should be physically capable of swimming in current and inform the instructor beforehand of any limitations that may affect participation. Course exercises and venue may change according to water levels, weather and safety conditions. Completion of the course does not make someone an ACA Swiftwater Rescue Instructor. Instructor certification is a separate ACA process. Ideal for: Kayakers, rafters, raft guides, river guides, packrafters, canoeists and other whitewater users. Participants should be comfortable swimming in moving water and have basic river experience. ACA Level 4 rescue training is designed for people who already operate in moving-water environments; current ACA course listings commonly expect competency around Class II whitewater. Course Focus ✓ River hazards and risk assessment ✓ Defensive and aggressive swimming ✓ Wading and moving-water techniques ✓ Throw rope rescues ✓ Swimmer management ✓ Shore-based rescues ✓ Boat-based rescues ✓ Tethered rescue techniques ✓ Boat recovery and unpinning ✓ Pins and entrapment awareness ✓ Stabilization and control lines ✓ Cinches and rescue systems ✓ Team communication ✓ Rescue leadership and decision-making ✓ Realistic rescue scenarios ACA's Level 4 curriculum specifically includes practical rescue strategies, entrapment systems and simulated scenarios designed to develop risk management and rescue decision-making.
Jaguar Kayak Academy offers social kayak programs, small-group kayak instruction, whitewater trips and family adventures led by local experts in Costa Rica.
