: Few people are prepared for the shock of hitting cold water.

Absolutely. Most people don't understand the risks, and without understanding the risks, they can't make the right judgments. I paddle on Lake Superior 99% of the time, and I see this all the time. Just last night during a club paddle, one woman, who wasn't wearing a wetsuit, made a joke about how everyone else was dressed. Since, we don't have rules for who paddles or what they wear, she was assuming her own risk, but I'm not sure she understood the risk. Water temp was around 50F.

Here's an interview I did about cold water paddling with Sam Crowley, who circumnavigated Ireland solo and is an ACA L5 ITE in Coastal Kayaking. http://www.paddlinglight.com/articles/the-risks-of-cold-water-kayaking-and-canoeing/