Its like nothing I’ve done before and doesn’t really build on any other skills I’ve used recently. Being upside down in water is a wierd, disorientating feeling!I did a four day course in NZ which was really well organsised. By the end I’d managed to nail a ‘sweep roll’ (a safe way of getting back upright) in the pool, on fast flowing water and a couple of ‘combat rolls’ (yes, I managed to get myself upright when I accidently fell over in the white stuff…awesome feeling!). I freaked out quite a bit when I started going upside down in the pool but the instructors helped me spend some time upside down doing various orientation tasks (passing the paddle over the boat while upside down etc). For someone who really doesn’t feel comfortable under water starting to kayak was great fun and if you feel a bit scared of water, let the instructors know and spend some time upside down with them around for safety and you’ll soon chill out. Definitely do it – and if you feel the cold, wear lots of polyprop (thermals) or do the course somewhere warm!