Level 4 Sea Instructor
Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor
1.00 General aims
The Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Qualification aims to enable candidates to:
1.01 Become qualified to instruct and lead groups safely in slight/moderate sea conditions.
1.02 Train and Assess for Canoeing Ireland levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sea Kayak Skills Awards.
1.03 Teach advanced coastal navigation courses.
1.04 Promote safe kayaking standards, foster further participation and improvement in kayaking
standards.
2.00 Course Outline
The Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Qualification requires that a candidate attend a training course and
a one day assessment.
The course will cover:

Observation and analysis skills

Coaching to perform

Feedback techniques

Reflective practice
3.00 Applying to attend a Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor training course.
Before applying for this training course a candidate must:
3.01 Be currently registered with Canoeing Ireland Training & Development Unit as a Level 3 Sea
Kayak Instructor.
3.02 Have completed the Level 5 Sea Kayak Skills training.
3.03 Have unrestricted access to a suitable sea kayak, personal equipment and additional equipment
as listed for the level 5 Sea Kayak Skills Award.
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Level 4 Sea Instructor
3.04 Complete a course application and return to the Canoeing Ireland office.
4.00 Applying to attend a Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessment.
Candidates can apply to attend an assessment upon approval of their completed logbook.
Before applying to attend a Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessment, a candidate must:
4.01
Be currently registered with Canoeing Ireland Training & Development Unit.
4.02
Hold the Level 5 Sea Kayak Skills award
4.03
Attend two Level 4 Sea Kayak Skills Training Courses
4.04
Attended two Level 4 Sea Kayak Skills Assessments
4.05
Attend two Advanced Navigation courses.
4.06 Participate in five Irish Canoeing Competitions or hold two Level 3 Skills Awards in other
disciplines, or hold a Level 4 Skills Award in one other discipline.
4.08
Possess a current Canoeing Ireland approved First Aid Certificate (REC 3 or equivalent).
4.09 Return a completed Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor assessment application to Canoeing Ireland
no later than three weeks prior to the assessment date.
5.00 Format of a Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessment
The Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessment will take place over one day and must include a sea trip
in slight/moderate sea conditions over a minimum distance of 4-8 kilometres.
The Assessment Group for the day of the assessment should consist of the following:
Assessors
Minimum of two registered Assessors on the Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessor
Panel.
Assessment
candidates
Minimum of two and up to a maximum of four Assessment candidates.
Student group Minimum of three and up to a maximum of eight participants who must hold at a
minimum the Level 3 Sea Kayak Skills Award and ideally be working towards Level Kayak
4 Sea Skills standard.
During the assessment a candidate must:
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Level 4 Sea Instructor
• Satisfy the assessors that they are mature, responsible and competent to instruct, lead and control
a group safely on a sea trip in slight/moderate sea conditions over a minimum distance of 4-8
kilometres.
• Be able to demonstrate any rescue techniques applicable to slight/moderate sea conditions.
• Have maintained a skills level equivalent to that of the Level 5 Sea Kayak Skills award.
• Present a suitable kayak correctly fitted out for instruction and other appropriate personal
equipment. It would be expected that a candidate's equipment would be of a standard consistent
with the responsibilities likely to be encountered by a Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor. Examination of
equipment will form part of the overall assessment.
Equipment required for the Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Assessment.
• Candidates must present suitable personal equipment plus any additional equipment deemed to be
appropriate to support other members of the group.
• Equipment should reflect such things as the season, the abilities of the group, and the sea
conditions at the time the trip is being undertaken.
• Borrowed equipment will be assessed as if it were a candidate's own.
• A candidate should be aware that having too much or inappropriate equipment can be as
hazardous as having too little.
Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Qualification Assessment Guidelines
• No other award may be assessed at the same time as the Level 4 Sea Kayak Instructor Qualification.
• Clear guidelines will be given in writing should a candidate fail an assessment as to the areas that
they need to improve on.
• Candidates cannot depend on any assistance (material or practical) during the course of an
assessment.
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Level 4 Sea Instructor
• Candidates with substantial previous experience may apply to the TDU committee for exemption
from certain requirements, specifically competitions and the requirement for logging hours. Each
application will be taken individually on its own merits and the committee’s decision is final.
 The award will remain valid as long as each candidate attend a relevant cpd every three years.
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