Canyoning Guide I

Course content

Course goal: a Canyoning Guide I should be able to instruct guests on canyoning trips and assist the responsible guide.

Practice:

• Rope work on dry land
• Rope work in the canyon
• Technique and tactics in whitewater

Theory:

• Equipment
• Hydrology
• Weather
• Guiding technique
• Trip preparation
• Currents in canyons/rivers
• First aid
• Ecology
• Laws

Exams:

• Theory exam
• Practical exam in rope and water technique

Required equipment

Canyoning equipment must undergo and pass a PPE inspection before the course. The course leader is entitled to prohibit the use of non-compliant equipment, which may also affect participation in the course.

Clothing:

• Wetsuit, long sleeves and legs, approx. 5 mm thick, with hood
• Neoprene socks, approx. 4-5 mm thick
• Canyoning shoes
• Thermal underwear if available
• Neoprene gloves if available
• Swimsuit
• Clothing and shoes for practical work on dry land

Technical equipment:

• Canyoning harness with gear loops
• 2 cowtails made of dynamic single rope
• 1 figure-eight descender suited to the rope used, so that efficient releasable systems can be set up. (The rope must pass easily as a loop through the small eye of the figure eight.)
• 1 additional figure-eight descender or, alternatively, a canyoning descender.
• 8 screwgate karabiners or other locking karabiners
• 2 ascenders with handle
• At least 2 quick links (Maillon Rapide)
• Remnants of dynamic rope, at least 9 mm thick, 8-10 m
• Rope cutter (anvil cutter) or rescue knife, attached to the harness within easy reach
• Canyoning rucksack
• Waterproof container
• Diving mask
• Ropes: canyoning or static ropes, of which
• 2 shorter ones (20-50 m)
• 1 longer one (60-100 m)
• Rockfall helmet
• Buoyancy aid

Miscellaneous:

• Small first aid kit
• Writing materials
• If available: emergency bolting kit incl. bolts
• If available: throw bag

Prerequisites

• Minimum age 18
• Passed admission test
• Proof of experience
  • 10 trips in at least 5 different canyons of medium difficulty. This must be signed. Compulsory: bring to the course
• Good swimming skills

Supporting documents

• First aid and BLS-AED-SRC complete courses or First Aid Level 1 IAS (IVR) (max. 2 years old)
• Proof of experience: see above
• Proof of private accident insurance

Copies of all supporting documents must be handed to the course leader on site. SOA cards are only issued once all documents have been received.
Courses/exams are only considered passed once all documents have been submitted; certificates are issued only then. Missing documents (e.g. BLS/AED, first aid, logbooks) can be submitted up to 3 months after completing the course/exam – after that, any claim to certification of the training/exams/courses lapses. The same applies to any resits, which must also take place within 3 months of the exam date. For later certification, the training/exams/courses must be repeated in full. This rule applies from the 2024 course year onwards.