You’ll almost certainly get your feet wet paddle boarding, because you usually wade in to launch and water splashes onto the deck. Whether the rest of you gets wet depends on the conditions and your experience. On calm water with a wide, stable board, plenty of people stay dry all session, but most beginners fall in at least once while they’re learning.
The best approach is to plan as if you’ll fall in. Dress for the water, wear a life jacket and a leash, and keep your phone and keys in a dry bag.
Quick answer
- Feet: almost always wet.
- Falling in: common in your first few sessions, rare once you’re steady on calm water.
- Biggest causes: launching, boat wakes, waves, wind and bumping into things.
- Stay dry by: using a wide board, picking calm water, launching from a low dock or knee-deep water, and kneeling when it gets choppy.
- Always: dress for the water temperature, not the air.
Why paddlers get wet
Getting on and off
You usually carry the board into shallow water and climb on from there, so your feet and shins get wet. Climbing on is also when a lot of beginners wobble off. Start on your knees in the middle of the board, then stand up when you’re steady. Our guide to how to launch a paddle board goes through it step by step.
Boat wakes
On busy lakes and bays, wakes from passing boats are one of the most common reasons people fall in. Turn the nose of your board toward the wake so it passes under you from front to back, bend your knees, and keep paddling. If in doubt, kneel down until it passes.
Waves and chop
In the ocean, getting out through breaking waves is a near-guaranteed soaking. Even beyond the surf, swell and wind chop make balancing harder. If you want to stay dry, stick to sheltered water.
Wind
Wind builds chop and pushes the board around, which makes balancing harder and tires you out. Check the forecast and pick calm mornings. Our guide to the best conditions for paddle boarding explains what to look for.
Hitting things
Running into a dock, a rock or another paddler can tip you off. Look ahead, slow down near obstacles, and keep a bit more distance than you think you need.
Water on the deck
Inflatables ride high, but a little water still splashes onto the deck, and a heavily loaded board sits lower. Expect damp feet even if you never fall.
How to stay dry
Use the right size board
A wide, stable board makes the biggest difference. Beginners usually do best on boards 32–34″ wide. If you’re between sizes, go wider. Our Board Fitter suggests a board size for your weight and skill, and our guide to what size paddle board you need explains why.
Pick calm water and calm days
Sheltered lakes, coves and bays on still mornings are the easiest places to stay upright.
Launch from a low dock or knee-deep water
A low dock lets some paddlers step on without getting wet at all. From a beach, wade out to about knee depth so the fin clears the bottom, then climb on.
Kneel when you need to
There’s no shame in kneeling. It lowers your center of gravity and is the quickest way through wakes, gusts and choppy patches.
Practice balance
Feet hip-width apart either side of the handle, knees soft, eyes on the horizon, not your feet.
Dress for falling in
Even if you plan to stay dry, dress as if you’ll swim.
- Warm water: a swimsuit, rash guard or quick-dry clothes.
- Cooler water: a wetsuit. The National Center for Cold Water Safety treats any water below 70°F as cold enough to need thermal protection, because sudden immersion can trigger cold shock. Our wetsuit check suggests what to wear for your water temperature.
- Always: a Coast Guard–approved life jacket and a leash, so you can get back to your board quickly.
Keep your stuff dry
Getting wet yourself is fine. Your phone, keys and car fob are another matter. Put them in a dry bag strapped under the deck bungees, or a waterproof phone pouch. Our roundup of the best dry bags for paddle boarding has options at different sizes.
FAQ
Do beginners fall in a lot?
Most beginners fall at least once or twice in their first sessions, especially getting on and standing up. It drops off quickly as you get the hang of it.
What should I do if I fall in?
Fall away from the board, not onto it. Surface, grab the board (your leash keeps it close), and climb back on from the side, near the middle. See how to get back on a paddle board after falling.
Can I paddle board if I can’t swim well?
Wear a life jacket every time, stay close to shore on calm water, and consider a lesson first. A weak swimmer should never paddle without a life jacket and leash.
Will I get wet on an inflatable paddle board?
About the same as on a hard board. What matters most is the board’s width and the conditions, not whether it’s inflatable.
