Safe Boating and Water Sports Basics
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Wearing a properly fitted life jacket, rather than simply having one stored on board, remains one of the most effective single safety measures for any boating or water sports activity, regardless of swimming ability or overall prior boating experience level. A properly fitted jacket only works if it is actually worn.
Checking weather and water conditions before setting out, and understanding how quickly conditions can genuinely change on open water, helps avoid being caught unprepared by a shift that was visible from shore but genuinely easy to underestimate while standing on the shoreline. Conditions on open water can shift more quickly than expected.
Informing someone on land of your planned route and expected return time applies to water activities just as it genuinely does to hiking, giving a useful safety net if plans happen to change quite suddenly and unexpectedly. A short message before heading out costs nothing at all.
For unfamiliar water sports, booking through a properly licensed operator with visible safety equipment and thorough briefings, rather than the cheapest informal option available, is generally well worth the extra consideration and the modest expense involved. A properly run operator is usually easy enough to spot.