Grading of Rapids

As with trekking, mountaineering and other adventurous sports, river rafting too has been classified and graded in terms of degrees of difficulty. The degree of difficulty would depend on the river gradient and its rapids.

The following are the grades of rafting:

Grade I: Easy
Small moving water, which is very easy to negotiate.

Grade II: Novice
moving water with occasional rocks.Moderately difficult.

Grade III: Intermediate
moving water with rocks. high irregular waves, narrow passages, action required.

Grade IV: Advanced
Large falls but not continuous. very difficult, powerful waves

Grade V: Expert
long continuous unbroken stretches of rapids. extremely difficult, long violent & highly congested.

Grade VI: Suicidal
The hardest grade with ultimate risk to life. It is also called the Suicidal grade.

Safety while rafting

Every raft for river running is equipped with a first aid box and other essential life saving devices, which is essential part of rafting sports. All rafting companies have a panel of doctors in case of any eventuality.Younger children under the age of 14 years are not allowed to do rafting. Teenagers above the age of 14 years are allowed to raft on certain sections of the river but safety is given the first priority.All the members of the rafting team are given the complete safety briefing at the start of the trip. They are provided with life jackets, helmets waterproof dry bags and complete camping gear.

Types of Raft

Rafts are basically unsinkable and inflatable boats.

The boats are of two kinds:

One is an Oarframe boat in which the volume of risk involved is less.

The second kind of boat is a paddleboat, which is more enjoyable then an Oarframe but the volume of risk involved is very high.These boats are 16 - 22 ft. in length. These are inflatable and unsinkable rafts with a capacity of 8 to 10 persons.

Equipments in Rafting

The Equipment required for rafting is:

Safety helmets,

life jackets,

waterproof dry bags, and

camping gear (like goggles and antiseptic cream) and

unsinkable and inflatable boats.

Things to Carry:

2 Pairs of sports shoes (one pair for rafting)
Shorts
T-shirts
Swimsuits / Trunks / Tights
Woolens during winter Months
Toilet and personal Medical requisites
Beach sandals
Torch
Sun shades / glasses
Camera / Binoculars
Diary / pen / Reading Material
Mosquito Repellents