All about the NCC…

The National Coasteering Charter (NCC) is recognised by:

It has been voted in by Coasteering Providers across the UK to represent them as a group with the aims of:

• Setting minimum operating standards to work to
• Setting minimum training standards to train Coasteering Guides to
• Upholding environmentally sustainable methods of Coasteering
• Be a voice to represent coasteering providers nationally to other bodies
• We provide opportunity for providers to share information to improve practice
• To share incidents, accidents and near misses to continuously improve coasteering safety

All of the above are continuously developed over time.

The Charter has a  constitution. In brief, coasteering providers pay a sum of £50 per year to sign up to it to show that they are working at the levels set by the charter.  This money supports the continuous development of the documents and also gives funds that support the sharing and learning of good practice.

Each member that has signed up to it meets regionally twice a year.  Two representatives are voted in to represent their region at the National meeting that his held once a year.

Currently there are two trains of thought:

1. The outdoor industry has enough NGB’s – when the NCC was voted in in November 2011, it was decided that we could manage ourselves by self-representation, as long as we had a structured communication system set in place
2. To be an NGB you need many members to pay into the pot to make it sustainable.  Currently there are only about 150 or so providers of Coasteering in the UK.  This would not cover the costs of the necessary administration etc. that an NGB incurs.  The way that organisations such as the BCU and RYA are sustainable is that they also have individual members who are keen sailors and paddlesports enthusiasts.  Coasteering is still in its relative infancy, and as it is perceived as a high risk activity, not many people go out by themselves to coaster without a trained guide.  However, this is changing…

Most people have their first exciting experience of coasteering as part of a programme of activities with an adventurous activity provider.

This is the best way to learn the basic skills needed to have a go safely, paying particular attention to the environment, safety issues under the expert advice and guidance of a local guide.

If you’re looking for a provider please use our list to find one in your area

Most coasteering activities take place in the area known as the intertidal zone along littoral coastline. This is the area that is found above water at low tide and that which is underwater at high tide, and is most often done on the ‘cliffy’ part of the coast. The area contains a vast array of animal and plant life such as seaweeds, star fish, sponges, crabs and barnacles to name but a few.

The activity area may also include small sea cliffs, ledges, caves, rocky areas and pathways leading to almost inaccessible areas of beautiful coastline that can only be accessed from the water. Access to some areas of our coastline is not a given right so if you are looking to coasteer is would be worth finding out from local providers the access situation for a particular area.