A few things worth knowing

Choose your activity on our hire page, then pick a date and time. You'll get a confirmation by email with everything you need for the day.

Hire is booked by the hour. You'll see the session lengths available when you choose a date and time.

Cancellation is free up to 14 days before your booking. Moving a booking is subject to availability: bookings moved within 14 days of the session are charged 10% of the booking value, and bookings moved within 48 hours are charged 25%. Call or email us with your booking reference.

No. Hire includes a safety briefing and route advice, then you head out on your own. A lesson or guided trip adds an instructor on the water with you. See our lessons and guided trips.

Yes. See our groups and parties page, or corporate team days for work events.

Yes. Our credit vouchers can be put towards hire. See our gift vouchers page. Please note we can't refund credit or activity vouchers.

The minimum age is 12. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied on the water by an adult.

Absolutely. Most of our customers are first-timers. A sit-on-top kayak is the easiest place to start. Every hire begins with a briefing on land, and we'll suggest a route that suits you.

Everyone wears a buoyancy aid. If anyone in your group isn't confident in the water, please call us before booking so we can talk it through.

No, paddleboards and single kayaks are for one person each. A double kayak lets two people paddle together.

We're sorry, but we're unable to take anyone who is pregnant on our hire activities.

Please call us before booking. We'd rather talk it through properly and give you accurate information about getting to the water, the equipment and taking part.

Yes. Please complete the participant questionnaire and waiver for everyone in your booking before your session, using the link in your confirmation email. Include the second participant's details and email address when prompted. Forms not completed in advance can eat into your time on the water.

At The Paddle Centre, beside the slipway at Swanwick Marina, Swanwick Shore Road, Southampton SO31 7EF. That postcode takes you to our dedicated vehicle and pedestrian entrance. For pinpoint directions, use the what3words address ///heads.nail.fixed. See plan your visit.

30 minutes before your booked time, so you can sign in, get changed and watch our short induction video.

Your session still finishes at the booked time, so arriving late means less time on the water. If you're held up, call us on 01489 536151.

Yes. There's free parking on site for customers booked on our activities.

Your paddleboard or kayak, a paddle, a buoyancy aid and a safety briefing with route advice.

Clothes for the weather that can get wet, footwear that stays on, a change of clothes and a towel. You'll also need your phone in a waterproof pouch or dry bag to take on the water, and a deposit item such as a bank card or car keys.

Yes, there are toilets and changing facilities at the centre.

Please be back ashore at the end of your booked time. If you're running late for any reason, call us straight away on 01489 536151.

Returning late without letting us know isn't just inconvenient, it's a safety risk. If you're overdue and we can't reach you, we may need to start a search, which can include notifying the Harbour Master.

Late returns are charged per craft:

• the standard hire charge for the extra time (minimum one hour)
• plus a £20 late return fee
• plus a £100 emergency response fee if we have to start a search because we can't contact you

Keep your phone with you in a waterproof pouch so we can reach you, and leave yourself plenty of time to paddle back against the tide.

From Swanwick you can head towards neighbouring Universal Marina or explore the upper reaches of the river. We'll suggest the best route on the day for your experience and the tide. Read our River Hamble paddling guide.

Yes. The Hamble is a tidal river, so the tide affects which way is easier and how far it's sensible to go. That's why we suggest a route at your briefing, and why it's worth leaving plenty of time to get back. You can check tide times for Swanwick on the Premier Marinas website.

Not on independent hire. You'll have a briefing and route advice, then you paddle on your own. If you'd like an instructor with you, see our guided trips and lessons.

We keep a close eye on the wind and tide. As a guide, we cancel hire and beginner lessons when winds are over 20mph, gusting to 30mph, or in heavy rain. If we have to cancel because of the weather, we'll phone you. Please don't assume your session is off because of a general forecast: if you're worried, give us a call.

No. Swanwick Marina is The Paddle Centre's only location.

Our sister company, The SUP Company, sells paddleboards, kayaks and kit with honest advice on what to choose.