Your safety is of paramount importance at Borderlands. Borderlands has invested in certifying our local guides to international standards and we pride ourselves on meeting international expectations on health and safety. Our aim is to ensure that you will have a real adventure we manage the risks professionally and responsibly.
Commitment to Safety
Risk may be inseparable from adventure, but for Borderlands our clients’ safety and well being is our top priority. We operate our programs, activities and adventures to strict International Safety Standards. Borderlands has a set of specific operating procedures in place for each activity, which includes a safety briefing, and equipment and gear check prior to all activities. We are the only adventure operator in Sri Lanka who insists on safety kayakers for all of our water activities, so that we can be sure that river conditions are managed at all times.
Staff
Borderlands values a diverse staff to meet the array of goals and interests our customers bring to us. Our trip leaders are professionally trained and dedicated to creating safe environments in collaboration with our participants. Borderlands instructors are educators and in the field they focus on blending technical skills and instruction with opportunities for participants to explore and develop their understanding of wilderness ethics, leadership roles, and teamwork.
Borderlands guides are First Aid and CPR certified, and receive constant on the job training in safety and rescue procedures. We also use outsourced expert trainers such as UK canyoning guides, Paddle Canada, and SRT rescue 3 to ensure our guides have up to date and continuous safety and medical techniques.
Equipment
Borderlands uses only modern equipment up to international standards. Borderlands operates alongside EDGE, Sri Lanka’s premier outdoor adventure outfitters store, so all our equipment comes directly from the source. Our life jackets and buoyancy aids are made to order, ensuring that the jackets will not come off in the water. We continuously check our equipment and upgrade it when necessary.
CERTIFICATIONS
UK Canyon Guides
The UK Canyon Guides are a UK based non-profit organization formed to provide a resource for canyoners all over the UK and to provide training and information on the current best practices to recreational canyoners and professional guides alike. All our guides are UK Canyoning Guide Level 1 qualified.
International Rafting Federation
The INTERNATIONAL RAFTING FEDERATION (IRF) is recognized as the world governing body for Rafting Sport. It is a non-profit, democratic, global affiliation of sporting entities and personalities, responsible for fostering fair, credible and legitimate international rafting competition at all levels. Recognized as the world body which oversees the certification and training of professional river rafting guides, the IRF works closely with national organizations and government bodies by offering the only rafting guide certification program accepted worldwide. All our guides are IRF qualified river guides.
Canoe Kayak Canada
Canoe Kayak Canada is the national body for competitive paddling in Canada which is recognized by its partners at the International Canoe Federation, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee and Sport Canada as the designated authority for the sport in Canada. All our guides are qualified by CKC in Ocean kayaking and canoeing as well as flatwater and white-water river canoeing.
Rescue 3 International
Rescue 3 International is the leader in providing flood, water and rope rescue training to individuals and organizations of the US and over 50 other countries. They are known for their dynamic curriculum and utilizing state of the art techniques. At Borderlands all our guides are SERT (Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Technician) qualified under Rescue 3 International.
Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
The PADI is the world’s leading scuba diver training organization. The PADI System of diver education is based on progressive training that introduces skills, safety-related information and local environmental knowledge to student divers in stages. PADI Professionals make underwater exploration and scuba diving adventures possible while maintaining the highest standards for diver training, safety and customer service. Borderlands operates a PADI certified dive school in Weligama, with a PADI dive pool for training. Our dive master and dive instructor are both PADI qualified.
American Safety and Health Institute
All our river guides are certified in First aid – CPR by the American Safety and Health Institute. The ASHI is an association of health and safety educators that provides certification in CPR, First Aid, and other basic topics for laypersons and professionals. Certification by the ASHI is generally accepted as valid and equivalent to similar certification given by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association in CPR and First Aid.