| Location: Koh Bele, Krabi, Thailand |
| In cold water, decked kayaks insulate you from the elements. In Equatorial waters, Sit-On-Tops are an extension of the elements, allowing you to interact with the sea. And in the Tropics, that's what it's all about. Most folks who criticize Sit-On-Tops in warm waters aren't very good swimmers, so they aren’t jumping out of the boat that often anyway.
In this shot, one of our boatmen who isn't a strong swimmer keeps on his PFD while snorkeling. By putting non-swimmers in a PFD, or simply straddling an inflatable sideways, I've turn on dozens of non-swimmers to the wonders of the coral reef. Most of them told me they were going to learn how to swim. I wonder if they ever did.
Not to worry, even if you can't swim, we still take you paddling and snorkeling. Just wear a vest and let your guide know your abilities.
However, if you are a good swimmer, it’s foolish to require life vests in our equatorial climate. In a paddling forum, an ACA director once told me I was an "irresponsible — - — - — - -" for not requiring vests at all times — even if paddlers are good swimmers. I asked where I could take off my vest — when I snorkel — in the boat before I jump in the water, in the water after I am out of the boat or at 45 degrees as I am falling in.
When a paddler from Florida asked this tyrant about his ocean paddling experience, especially in the Tropics, the fellow replied meekly, "I have never paddled in the ocean" So much for closed minds forcing their myopic ideas on sea kayakers. |
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