Hi Nick, I'm going to second Dave's entry.The standard Greenland roll is by far the easiest self or assisted recovery there is. The locals here see me coming along the beach and scream and holler for the usual entertainment, rolling my sea kayak. In two and a half miles of beach I do a very conservative estimate of two hundred rolls. It doesn't get any easier than that. If I were doing three or four self rescues, even the heel hook type, I would be done for the day.

And I'm no whipper-snapper. I'm an arthritis and neuropathy ridden, heart diseased old fart.

As for the depth of water needed count on a foot and a half at most. Even with your back pressed on the bottom rolling up is not a problem. I like to practice in shallow water which is good for seeing if my paddle is diving; it's not allowed to touch the bottom. If the water is so shallow you cannot roll underneath to the opposite side no problem. Just roll up on the side you rolled in on.

When I started kayaking I could see that rolling was mandatory for me and I am thankful every time I paddle that I learned.

~Bob