What is the minimum age to attend?

Minimum age is 14 years old; younger participants must meet fitness and swimming competency expectations.

Do I need my own boat or kit?

Bring your usual paddling kit if you have it; organisers will advise if equipment is provided after booking.

What does the £75 fee cover?

The advertised price of £75 includes tuition, lunch, and a certificate on successful completion.

Where is the meeting point?

Exact meeting point and student-to-instructor details are supplied after booking—check your reservation confirmation.

What happens in bad weather?

Sessions proceed with adjustments for safety; organisers will communicate any significant changes ahead of the start time.

Hands-On Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course in Enniskillen | Water Activities | Canoe

Q: Is this course a prerequisite for instructor training?

Yes, it is listed as a prerequisite for the Paddlesports Instructors Course, Ag14+.

British Canoeing Paddlesport Safety & Rescue Course in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland is a hands-on, full-day training that teaches practical rescue and self-rescue techniques for paddlers. The course runs 10 am – 4 pm and is designed as a prerequisite for the Paddlesports Instructors Course, Ag14+. Over six focused hours on inland freshwater, candidates learn equipment selection, contact and towing rescues, self-rescues, and deep-water recoveries. The price is £75 and includes lunch and a certificate.

Set on the region’s sheltered lakes and rivers near Enniskillen, the course blends classroom frameworks with wet-practice drills. Key features of the experience are the paddler’s craft (kayaks and canoes), towed-rescue setups, throwlines, buoyancy aids, and controlled deep-water scenarios. The surrounding landscape is typical of Northern Ireland’s freshwater systems: peat-stained water, rocky shorelines, and reed-lined shallows that teach students to read real-world hazards and currents. Instructors emphasize context—how wind, shore shape, and submerged brush alter rescue options.

Why this course matters here: Enniskillen sits amid a network of waterways where day trips and club paddles can quickly escalate into technical situations. British Canoeing’s curriculum focuses on pragmatic skills you’ll use the next time you capsize or come across someone in trouble: boat management, assisted towing, simple rigging, casualty management, and self-recovery under a variety of conditions. For candidates aiming to progress to the Paddlesports Instructors Course, this certification covers required components and establishes a safety-first mindset.

Practical details for visitors: the session begins at 10 am and finishes around 4 pm; minimum age is 14. Bring paddling kit unless otherwise instructed; the course provides structured coaching, group exercises, and a certificate on completion. The student-to-instructor ratio and exact meeting point are provided after booking. Weather can flip on short notice, so clothing and footwear suited to immersion and variable temperatures are essential.

This course stands out because it trades theory for repeated, supervised practice. Instructors replicate common rescue scenarios until the maneuvers become reflexive. Beyond technique, participants leave with confidence in decision-making: when to attempt a recovery, when to call for help, and how to manage equipment and casualty safety. For paddlers who want to move from nervous self-reliance to prepared competence, this full-day clinic in Enniskillen is a compact, efficient way to gain lifesaving skills.

Local paddling clubs and outdoor centres often send members to this course because it compresses a season of trial and error into a single, focused day. Expect hands-on demonstrations, pair and group drills, playback coaching, and clear safety frameworks you can apply on calm and more exposed waters. The certificate and skills gained are directly useful for recreational paddlers, volunteer rescue teams, and anyone preparing to teach. Booking information and exact logistics are supplied at reservation time online only.

About Share Discovery Village

Share Discovery Village is a lakeside activity and accommodation destination located near Enniskillen in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The village offers a wide range of stays — glamping pods with complimentary pool bookings and breakfast deliveries, caravans, campsites and fully accessible self-catering chalets — making it suitable for families, groups and visitors seeking waterfront relaxation or outdoor adventure.

Onsite leisure facilities include a leisure suite with a swimming pool, sauna and steam room, a waterpark and a gym, plus playgrounds and forest trails that connect guests to the lakeshore. Activity programming covers paddlesports (canoe, kayak and SUP hire), stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, a paddlesports instructor course, a 30ft indoor climbing wall with expert instructors, archery, bushcraft, combat corps, escape rooms including Lights Out, traditional Greenland games and junior multi-activity summer schemes. Many sessions are suitable for beginners and families.

Share Discovery Village provides a practical base for exploring County Fermanagh attractions such as the Cuilcagh ‘Stairway to Heaven’, with easy access to nearby trails, waterways and local sights. Accessibility features and self-catering options allow longer stays for families and visitors with mobility needs. Booking options span short breaks to multi-night stays across glamping, camping, caravans and self-catering categories.

Featured on The Adventure Collective, the site combines comfortable accommodation, structured activities and on-site leisure to deliver an all-ages outdoor holiday experience in Northern Ireland. Seasonal programmes run from spring to autumn, with many activity options available year-round; bookings cover short breaks and extended stays suitable for family reunions, birthday events and group retreats regularly.