Never paddle alone!
An important thing to remember about kayaking is that you should never paddle alone.
One of the biggest rules of thumb when it comes to kayaking is that you should never paddle alone. The reasons for this are many, but most of all, if you make sure that you have somebody with you, then you'll be able to stay safe in almost any situation. Having an extra person with you means that if something happens to one of you, the other one will be there to help out - either with the first aid kit, with going for help, or even just by being somebody on the other end of a throw rope.
Never paddle alone is a good idea for other reasons as well. For instance, if you're going to be kayak touring, chances are good that you'll see a lot of amazing things - and it's always good to have another person there to share them with you. Plus, it will likely be a fun and exciting event to share with your friend.
Another thing that you should consider is that if you never paddle alone, then you'll be able to go kayaking in the wilderness without feeling too lonely. After all, it can be very lonely to be alone out on the water with just you and your kayak. If you have another person to talk to, you'll more than likely have more fun out there.
You will also have somebody nearby to encourage you if you start to feel at all discouraged. For that reason, if you never paddle alone, you'll probably be better able to go kayaking without getting discouraged and stopping. This is a good thing to keep in mind if you are going to be kayaking in an area where the going might get a little rough - the last thing you want is to be stuck somewhere alone, and not want to continue.
Finally, and most obviously, never paddle alone is told as a general rule because it is the best way to make sure that you will be safe when you are kayaking. In addition to this, however, you should make sure that other people who are not accompanying you on your trip also know where you will be kayaking. That way if anything happens, the emergency teams will know where to look for you.
However, if you make sure that you never paddle alone, then chances are good you'll be able to have a safe, fun time on the water.
About the Author
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.kayakhelp.com. Please visit his complete kayaking guide for all skills and ages.