Water classification
This is our new grading scheme for qualifications you'll need for water activities at Girlguiding.
Keep everyone safe by checking you have the right qualifications.
You can see each activity based on the type of water it'll take place on it. The type of water differs for each activity. This makes it easier to link to National Governing Body (NGB) and Girlguiding qualifications.
For full definitions of sheltered water, very sheltered water and other classifications, see the British Canoeing Environmental definitions guidance.
Check the activity and then the type of water to see the qualifications you'll need.
Very sheltered water
Bellboat helm or paddlesport instructor with bell boat experience. Paddlesport instructors should be supervised by a Coach Award holder unless they have been approved to work independently. Read about deploying paddlesport instructors (PDF).
Sheltered water
Bellboat helm or Coach Award holder with bell boat experience.
For prior qualifications and their equivalency see our British Canoeing qualification equivalency guide (PDF).
Very sheltered water
Paddlesport instructor. Paddlesport instructors should be supervised by a Coach Award holder unless they have been approved to work independently. Read about deploying paddlesport instructors (PDF).
Sheltered water
Coach Award holder.
Moderate inland water
Canoe coach, white water kayak coach.
Moderate sea
Sea kayak coach.
Advanced inland water
Advanced canoe coach, advanced white water kayak coach.
Advanced sea
Advanced sea kayak coach.
Dingy instructor
Where a powerboat is being used as a safety craft then the driver should hold a minimum of Royal Yachting Association National Power Boat Certificate Level 2.
Improvised rafting is where poles, barrels and ropes, or similar items are used to construct a craft for use on the water for a short period of time before it will be dismantled.
Very sheltered water
Paddlesport instructor with experience of rafting. Paddlesport Instructors should be supervised by a Coach Award holder unless they have been approved to work independently.
Sheltered water
Coach Award holder with experience of rafting.
Activity to take place in unclassified or very sheltered water only.
No National Governing Body award is present for this activity. The provider should provide in house training for staff delivering the activity, who should be competent at rescues, and have attended formal training.
Where participants can fall from the inflatable into the water then there must be staff in appropriate craft on the water to perform rescues if required. Sufficient staff should be provided to view all areas of the inflatable.
British Kitesports Association instructor level 1 qualification.
Canals
Girlguiding UK modules 1-3 of the narrowboat scheme.
Rivers
Girlguiding UK modules 1- 4 of the narrowboat scheme.
Rivers or estuaries that have tidal movement
Activity for adults only. Girlguiding UK modules 1-4, plus experience.
May be used on ornamental or shallow boating lakes without instruction and without buoyancy aids provided that girls are in sight of a leader at all times, the lake is managed and a leader in the group has the ability to rescue from water, treat for hypothermia, and can administer CPR. In these lakes, the girls should be able to stand up in the water. Neither should there be flow, nor should it be affected by wind.
Very sheltered water
When using pedalos in deeper water, for example where girls can't stand up, you must have an adult in each pedalo and participants must wear buoyancy aids. The pedalo should also be steerable by means of a wheel, tiller or rudder, rather than just by pedalling harder on one side. The area in which they operate shouldn't be no more than very sheltered water, and not affected by wind or current.
Inland water
Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Instructor Inland.
Coastal water
Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Instructor with coastal endorsement.
Inland water
Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Instructor Inland.
Coastal water
Royal Yachting Association Powerboat Instructor with coastal endorsement.
British Rowing Session Coach or UK Coaching Club Level 2 Coach.
Very sheltered water
BSUPA Level 1 Instructor or Paddlesport Instructor. Paddlesport instructors should be supervised by a Coach Award holder unless they have been approved to work independently. Read about deploying paddlesport instructors (PDF).
Sheltered water
- British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association Level 1 Instructor
- Paddle UK Coach Award holder
- Paddle UK Sheltered Water SUP Coach
- British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association Level 1 Instructor
- Paddle UK Open Water SUP coach
Open water
British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association Level 1 Instructor or Paddle UK Open Water SUP coach.
White water up to grade 3
Paddle UK White Water SUP coach or Paddle UK WW Coach with WW SUP Award.
Sea up to 500 m from shore
British Stand Up Paddleboarding Association Level 1 Instructor or Paddle UK Surf or Sea Kayak Coach Award holder with SUP surf award.
International Surfing Association Level 1 Surf Instructor.
If the participants are to be towed behind a powerboat then the driver must have an Royal Yachting Association Level 2 and be experienced in towing skiers or boarders. Alternatively, they should hold a British Water Ski and Wakeboard Ski Boat Driver award. There should always be an observer on board any craft towing.
For cable tows in house training should be provided for the staff delivering the activity and they should have access to a rescue craft.
Man-made artificial sites
Stadium raft guide or IRF guide (class 3).
Natural rivers
River raft guide (class 2, 3 or 4).
The class of raft guide must match the grade of water as per Paddle UK's descriptions.
No National Governing Body award is present for this activity. The provider should provide in-house training for staff delivering the activity, who should be competent at White Water Rescues and have attended formal training.
Windsurfing instructor.
Where a powerboat is being used as a safety craft then the driver should hold a minimum of Royal Yachting Association National Power Boat Certificate Level 2.
Activity to take place in unclassified or very sheltered water only.
No national governing body award is present for this activity. The provider should provide in house training for staff delivering the activity. The ball in which the participant is in must have a tether to the bank unless it's in an exceedingly small space, such as a paddling pool.
