Rafting Glossary

Raftingwhite water rafting · whitewater rafting · beyaz su raftingi

The sport of running the fast-flowing sections of a river in an inflatable boat (raft), with the crew paddling together on the commands of an experienced guide.

In recreational rafting, participants need no previous experience; the safety briefing, the equipment and the choice of line are the guide's responsibility. Competitive rafting, in which clubs race each other, is a separate discipline.

Raft (rafting boat)rafting boat · inflatable · rafting botu

A durable inflatable boat used for rafting, divided into air chambers and usually carrying 6–8 people.

Thanks to the chambered design, the boat keeps floating even if one chamber is damaged. Commercial rafting uses self-bailing boats whose floor drains water by itself.

Raft guiderafting guide · river guide · rafting rehberi

The trained person who steers the raft, chooses the line and gives the crew commands; the safety of a rafting trip depends largely on the guide's experience.

The guide sits at the back of the raft and uses the paddle like a rudder. Competence at international level is documented by IRF certificates: in the IRF system, a guide's level shows the most difficult river grade they may work on.

Field note:When choosing your guide, ask: which certificate do they hold, and how many seasons have they worked on this river? A good guide is happy to answer these questions.

Section (run)river section · run · stretch · etap

The part of a river that is rafted, with a defined start and finish point.

Different sections of the same river can differ in difficulty; for example, a river's upper section may contain grade 4 rapids while its lower section is suitable for families. A section's length is usually given in kilometres and time.

Put-in and take-output-in · take-out · launch point · giriş ve çıkış noktası

The put-in is where the rafts are launched; the take-out is where the section ends and the rafts are taken out of the water.

The safety plan is based on these points: road access, the nearest exit in an emergency and the means of communication are also taken into account when assessing a section's difficulty.

River right / river leftriver right · river left · nehrin sağı / nehrin solu

Directions on a river are given while facing downstream: when you look downstream, the side of your right hand is river right and the side of your left hand is river left.

Thanks to this shared language, a warning such as “watch the rock on the right” means the same thing to everyone; even if the raft turns round, river right does not change.

Flow (discharge)flow rate · discharge · water level · debi

The volume of water passing a point on the river per second (m³/s); it is the factor that most changes the difficulty of a given section.

Snowmelt and rainfall raise the flow; waves grow, eddies shrink, and some obstacles end up underwater or become dangerous. That is why a river's grade can change with the season, and guides reassess the water every day.

Gradientriver gradient · drop per kilometre · kot farkı

How much a river drops over a given distance; usually expressed in metres per kilometre.

The steeper the gradient, the faster the water and the more frequent the drops and rapids. Together with flow, it is one of the two basic measures that define a section's character.

Whitewaterwhite water · beyaz su

Sections of a river where fast flow and obstacles mix air into the water, giving it a foamy, white appearance; this is where rafting really happens.

River grades (difficulty classes)river grading · class I–VI · whitewater classification · akıntı sınıfları

The international scale that grades the difficulty of rivers from 1 to 6: grade 1 is flat water with a gentle current, grade 6 is almost unrunnable and extremely dangerous water.

Grade 1: moving water with small waves. Grade 2: wide, open channels and easy rapids. Grade 3: irregular waves and rapids that require manoeuvring; the most enjoyable level for first-timers. Grade 4: powerful, continuous rapids; precise boat control and an experienced guide are needed. Grade 5: long, obstructed and violent rapids; for experts only. Grade 6: not run commercially. Grades can change with the flow: the same section can go up a grade during spring floods and down a grade at the end of summer.

Field note:The level number on IRF guide certificates matches this scale exactly: a Level 4 guide is authorised to work on rapids up to grade 4.

Rapidrapids · whitewater section · çağlayan

A stretch of river where the gradient increases and the water speeds up, forming waves and foamy sections; the exciting runs in rafting happen in rapids.

Most big rapids have a local name. Before entering a difficult rapid, guides may look at it from the bank to decide their line; this is called scouting.

Tongue (downstream V)tongue · downstream V · dil

The smooth, dark, V-shaped water formed as the current flows between two obstacles at the top of a rapid, with its point showing the direction of flow; it is often the cleanest way into a rapid.

Conversely, a V pointing upstream (upstream V) shows that the water is hitting a rock or obstacle below the surface; guides keep away from this sign.

Upstream Vyukarı V

A V-shaped mark on the water whose point faces upstream; there is usually a submerged rock or obstacle right at its tip.

Eddyback eddy · durgun su cebi

An area of water behind a rock, a projection of the bank or a bend in the river that is calmer than the main current and often circulates in the opposite direction.

Eddies are the river's parking spaces: the crew rests here, waits for the next rapid, and a participant in the water is pulled back into the raft here. Driving the raft into an eddy (eddy turn) and out of an eddy into the main current (peel out) are basic guide manoeuvres.

Field note:If you're in the water and your guide shouts “swim to the eddy”, swim hard towards the calm water by the bank, at an angle across the current; the moment you cross the eddy line, the current lets you go.

Eddy lineeddy fence · eddy hattı

The boundary between the fast main current and the calm eddy; here the water swirls and small whirlpools and boils form.

Crossing an eddy line takes angle and speed: if the raft goes in too steeply or too slowly, the current turns it back. Strong eddy lines can rock the raft; your guide's “hold on tight” warning usually comes here.

Wave traindalga treni

A series of waves lined up one after another in fast, deep water; usually harmless and the most fun.

The raft has to hit the waves straight; a raft that goes in sideways can flip. That is why the guide's “forward” command seems never-ending in a wave train.

Standing wavestationary wave · duran dalga

A wave that appears to stay in one place while the water moves through it; it forms as the current passes over an obstacle or through a narrowing channel.

Big standing waves can launch the raft into the air; on some rivers they are regular enough to surf.

Hole (hydraulic)hole · hydraulic · stopper · keeper · rulo

A foamy area where water pours over a rock or ledge and recirculates back onto itself; it can hold whatever enters it in place and tumble it.

Small holes are playgrounds; big ones can stop and flip the raft. Even more dangerous than natural holes are those formed by artificial weirs and dams that run straight across the river; guides always avoid them.

Field note:Guides plan their line away from big holes. Even so, if you end up in a hole, don't panic and don't fight the current; the way out is often through the edges of the hole or with the water flowing out along the bottom. Follow the directions of your guide and the safety team.

Pillow (cushion wave)cushion · yastık dalga

A soft-looking mound of water that builds up in front of a rock as the current hits it.

A clear pillow shows that water is flowing around the rock, meaning there is no hollow underneath it. A rock without a pillow that silently swallows the water, on the other hand, may be an undercut.

Strainersweeper · süzgeç

Obstacles that let water through but hold back people and rafts: fallen trees, branches, fences, piles of debris.

It is one of the most dangerous obstacles on a river, because the current pushes a person into the obstacle. Guides plan their line away from strainers, and at the start of every season they check whether new trees have fallen into the river after floods.

Field note:If you're drifting towards a strainer, don't wait in the defensive position; roll onto your front and swim away from it with strong strokes.

Undercut (undercut rock)undercut rock · alt oyuk kaya

A rock whose lower part has been hollowed out by the water, so that part of the current flows underneath it.

From above it looks harmless; that is why local river knowledge and scouting matter. A good guide knows the undercut rocks on their river by heart.

Siphon (sieve)sieve · sifon

Places where water flows below the surface through gaps between rocks; because they can suck a person in, they must be avoided at all costs.

The IRF's 2025 article on the descent of Baltacı Deresi also describes a siphon formed by logs washed down by a flood as one of the obstacles that blocked the team's line.

Dropledge · waterfall · düşüş

A step in the riverbed where the water flows noticeably downwards; a hole often forms below it.

The raft needs to go over the drop fast and straight. When the guide calls “get down” at the last moment, it marks the instant the raft is about to hit the wave below the drop.

Poolflat water · havuz

A deep, calm section between two rapids where the water slows down.

On “pool-drop” rivers, every difficult rapid is followed by a calm pool; this gives anyone who has fallen in an ideal safety margin to recover. Swimming breaks are usually taken in pools too.

Life jacket (PFD)PFD · personal flotation device · buoyancy aid · can yeleği

The essential personal safety equipment in rafting that keeps you at the surface in the water; models designed for whitewater fit snugly to the body.

A properly adjusted life jacket does not slide up towards your ears and chin when pulled upwards at the shoulders. The straps stay fastened both in the raft and in the water; the jacket is never taken off.

Field note:After fastening the straps, ask your guide to pull it up by the shoulders. If the jacket rides up, you need a size smaller or a tighter adjustment.

Helmetwhitewater helmet · kask

A lightweight whitewater helmet that protects the head against knocks from rocks, paddles and the raft.

The helmet should cover the forehead down to just above the eyebrows and should not move when you shake your head with the chin strap fastened.

Paddleraft paddle · kürek

The single-bladed paddle used in rafting; it has three parts: the grip (T-grip), the shaft and the blade.

One hand always stays on top of the T-grip, the other on the shaft close to the blade. The guide's paddle is usually longer; it is used at the back like a rudder.

T-gripT-handle · T-tutamak

The T-shaped grip at the top end of the paddle; it lets you control the angle of the blade.

Field note:A large share of rafting injuries come from someone else's T-grip. Never take your hand off the T-grip; don't let your paddle become a weapon against you or the person next to you.

Self-bailing raftself-bailer · self-bailing boat · kendini boşaltan bot

A rafting boat that automatically drains water that comes in through holes around its inflatable floor.

Older boats had to be bailed out with a bucket; a self-bailing raft lightens within a few seconds even when swamped by waves and stays controllable.

Thwart and foot cupthwart · foot cup · foot loop · oturak tüpü ve ayak yuvası

The inflatable tubes running across the inside of the raft are called thwarts; the pockets or loops in which participants wedge their feet are called foot cups.

Participants sit on the edge of the raft's side tube; the front foot is wedged under the thwart or into the foot cup. This hold is the most important secret to not falling out of the raft in the waves.

Field note:Don't just put your toes into the foot cup, but don't push it in up to the ankle either; place your foot so it is held firmly but can come out easily if needed.

Perimeter lineperimeter line · chicken line · OS line · çevre ipi

The grab line running all the way round the outer edge of the raft; it lets a person in the water hold on to the raft and be pulled back in.

Throw bagthrow line · rescue rope · atma ipi

A rescue bag containing a floating rope, thrown from the bank or from a raft to a person in the water.

The person who catches the rope holds it over their shoulder and stays on their back; the current swings them towards the bank like a pendulum. The rope is never wrapped around the wrist or the body.

Wetsuitneoprene · neopren elbise

A suit that keeps your body warm in cold water by holding a thin layer of water, which warms up between your wet skin and the fabric.

On rivers fed by snowmelt and in the spring months, a wetsuit, neoprene booties and, if needed, a splash jacket are worn together. In summer, in warm areas fed by spring water, swimwear and a T-shirt may be enough.

Drysuitdry suit · kuru elbise

A rafting suit with watertight seals at the wrists and neck that keeps water out; it is preferred in very cold water and on long expeditions.

Cataraftcat · kataraft

A boat made of two inflatable pontoons joined by a metal frame, usually steered by one person with long oars.

Because it is light and agile, it is used as a safety boat or as a gear boat carrying camping equipment. In the IRF certification system it falls under the same guide category as the standard rafting boat.

Scoutingscout · bank scouting · keşif

When guides get out of the raft before a difficult rapid and study the water from the bank to decide their line and safety set-up.

During scouting, the safety kayaker and people with throw bags may be placed at key points. If the guide doesn't like the water, the rafts are carried around on land in a portage.

Forward / Backforward paddle · back paddle · ileri / geri

The two basic paddling commands in rafting: on “Forward” the whole crew paddles forwards, on “Back” the whole crew paddles backwards, in the same rhythm.

The two people at the front set the rhythm; those behind paddle by watching their paddles. If the rhythm breaks down, power is lost and the raft cannot get onto the line the guide wants.

Right back / Left backright back · left back · turning commands · sağ geri / sol geri

The commands used to turn the raft: on “Right back” the right side paddles back and the left side paddles forward, turning the raft to the right; “Left back” is the opposite.

Some guides call the same move in full: “Right back, left forward”. Even if the wording differs, the aim is the same: the two sides paddling in opposite directions so the raft spins quickly on the spot.

Stopstop · rest · dur

The command to stop paddling; paddles are held out of the water, horizontal and under control.

Get down / Hold onget down · hold on · eğil / içeri

The command, given before a big wave or drop, for the crew to slide off the edge they are sitting on into the raft and hold on to the perimeter line.

The paddle is not let go; the T-grip stays under your hand, with the blade held up or inside the raft. As soon as the command is over, the crew returns to their places, because the raft has to be steered again straight afterwards.

High sidehigh-siding · yüksek taraf

The command for the crew to move quickly to the side of the raft that is hitting a rock or wave (the downstream side) when the raft strikes it sideways.

The aim is to stop the current from pushing the upstream edge of the raft underwater and flipping it, or wrapping it around the rock (wrap). It sounds counter-intuitive, but putting your weight towards the obstacle saves the raft.

Ferry (ferry glide)ferry glide · ferrying · çapraz geçiş

The technique of crossing from one side of the river to the other without being swept downstream, by paddling with the bow held at an angle to the current.

The current pushes the angled raft sideways; the right angle and power carry the raft across almost at the same level. It is used for moving between eddies and for avoiding obstacles.

Portagecarrying around · portaj

Getting past a section that is not suitable to run by carrying the rafts and equipment on land.

A portage is not a failure but a sign of good guiding: if the water isn't safe that day, the right decision is to go around it.

Safety briefingsafety talk · güvenlik brifingi

The mandatory briefing before getting on the water in which the guide explains how to use the equipment, the commands, how to sit and what to do if you fall in.

The briefing takes a few minutes but keeps the whole day safe. Participants rehearse the commands here on dry land.

Field note:Make sure nothing in the briefing is unclear to you. If you can't swim, have a health condition or wear glasses or contact lenses, tell your guide.

Defensive swimming positiondefensive swimming · whitewater swimming position · defansif yüzme pozisyonu

The safe position in which a person who has fallen in lies on their back, feet pointing downstream and at the surface, with the tips of the feet visible.

The feet act as a buffer against rocks, the hips are kept high, and the arms at the sides provide balance and direction. A person in this position waits for the guide's throw bag or the raft's perimeter line.

Field note:Never try to stand up in moving water deeper than your knees. Your foot can get trapped between rocks and the current pushes you forward; this is one of the most serious risks in rafting.

Aggressive swimmingactive swimming · offensive swimming · aktif yüzme

Rolling onto your front and swimming with strong strokes to reach a particular place, such as the raft, the bank or an eddy.

The defensive position is for waiting, aggressive swimming is for getting away. You switch to aggressive swimming when your guide shouts “swim” or when you're heading towards a strainer.

Flip (capsize)capsize · botun devrilmesi

When the raft turns upside down because of a wave, hole or rock; rare in well-planned commercial rafting.

If you end up under the raft, there is usually an air pocket above your head where you can breathe. Put your hand on the floor of the raft, pull yourself towards the edge to get out and grab the perimeter line. The guide turns the raft back over with the flip line.

Wrappin · wrapped raft · bota kaya sarılması

When the raft hits a rock sideways and gets stuck, bent around the rock by the pressure of the current.

A quick high side by the crew prevents most wraps. A stuck raft is recovered by the guides using rope and pulley systems.

Pulling a swimmer back into the raftflip-in · pulling in · swimmer recovery · bota geri alma

The technique of pulling a person in the water into the raft by gripping the shoulders of their life jacket and leaning back.

The rescuer faces the person in the water, grabs the shoulder straps of the life jacket, first pushes down to use the buoyancy, then pulls by falling back. It is rehearsed in the briefing.

Safety kayaksafety kayaker · güvenlik kayağı

A single-seat kayak accompanying the rafting group that is first to reach anyone who falls in and, when needed, takes them to the bank.

The IRF has a separate certificate category for safety kayakers (Safety Kayak); on demanding rivers, the safety kayak is the team's rapid-response force.

Z-dragpulley system · mechanical advantage system · makara sistemi

A mechanical system set up with rope, pulleys and karabiners to free a raft stuck on a rock, multiplying the pulling force.

It is one of the core topics of guide training; it is not a technique expected of participants, but knowing that your guide can do it is reassuring.

First aid certificatefirst aid · first aid qualification · ilk yardım sertifikası

A prerequisite for guide certification in the IRF system: guides must have current first aid training of at least 8 hours, and trip leaders and instructors at least 16 hours, including CPR.

The IRF does not accept first aid certificates that are more than 3 years old or were obtained entirely online.

IRF (International Rafting Federation)International Rafting Federation · IRF · Uluslararası Rafting Federasyonu

The worldwide governing body of rafting; it organises international competitions and, through its GTE programme, sets a common standard for guide training and certification.

The IRF's public register lists more than 4,000 certificate records from 55 countries worldwide (October 2026). Each record is published with the certificate number, date, location and assessing instructor, so anyone can verify a guide's qualification.

GTE (Guide Training and Education)Guide Training and Education · IRF GTE · Rehber Eğitimi ve Sertifikasyonu

The IRF's international training and certification programme for raft guides, trip leaders, safety teams and instructors; it was first developed in 2001.

Candidates must be at least 18 years old, be able to swim, hold a valid first aid certificate and keep a logbook recording every commercial trip they run. Certificates are awarded by level and category and are renewed at set intervals.

IRF Raft GuideRaft Guide · RG2 · RG3 · RG4 · RG5 · raft rehberi

The basic IRF certificate for guides who steer a raft; its level (2–5) shows the most difficult river grade the guide may work on.

For example, a guide with the code RG3 may steer a raft on rapids up to grade 3, and a guide with the code RG4 on rapids up to grade 4. The vast majority of certificates registered for Türkiye in the IRF register are in this category.

IRF Raft Trip LeaderTrip Leader · RTL3 · RTL4 · ekip lideri

The certificate for a senior guide who is responsible for an entire multi-raft trip, its safety plan and the guide team.

A trip leader must have more extensive first aid training and experience than guides. According to the IRF register, as of October 2026 only 3 people in Türkiye hold the Level 4 Raft Trip Leader certificate; our founder Mustafa Kaya is one of them.

IRF Raft InstructorRaft Instructor · RI3 · RI4 · raft eğitmeni

The certificate that authorises its holder to run training workshops for IRF guide and trip leader candidates; its level shows the most difficult river grade on which the workshop may be held.

According to the IRF register, as of October 2026 only two raft instructors from Türkiye are registered: fully certified Level 4 instructor Mehmet Vedat Vural and, since 2025, our founder [Mustafa Kaya](/mustafa-kaya) as a Level 3 instructor (provisional).

Provisional certificateprovisional · P · geçici sertifika

An IRF certificate status, subject to supervision, given to candidates who have met most but not yet all of a category's requirements.

A guide with provisional status may work while a fully certified guide of the same or a higher level supervises them in the raft; an instructor with provisional status runs the workshop under the supervision of a fully certified instructor. Once the missing requirements are completed, the full certificate follows.

Assessor (Instructor Trainer)Assessor · Instructor Trainer · eğitmen eğitmeni

The highest training tier in the IRF system: an assessor can run workshops and assessments for all guide categories and trains instructors.

According to the IRF register, as of October 2026 there are 13 Instructor Trainers registered worldwide. Mehmet Vedat Vural is named as the primary assessor on almost all rafting certificates obtained in Türkiye.

Dalaman River (Dalaman Çayı)Dalaman River rafting · Dalaman rafting · Dalaman Çayı

A river in the Dalaman district of Muğla, fed by spring water and by snowmelt and rain; with its clear water and canyon, it is one of Türkiye's most technical rafting runs.

It offers rafting in warm weather and crystal-clear water between May and October; Doğadayız's section takes 2.5 hours on average, and healthy participants aged 18–55 can join without previous experience. In the IRF register, it is the river in Türkiye where the second-highest number of guide certificates have been awarded; our founder Mustafa Kaya also obtained his Level 4 Trip Leader certificate here.

Köprüçay (Köprülü Canyon)Köprülü Canyon rafting · Beşkonak · Köprülü Kanyon

The river flowing through Köprülü Canyon National Park in Antalya; Türkiye's most visited rafting run.

With rapids that are generally grade 1–2, it is considered suitable for families and first-time rafters. Because of the high visitor numbers, sustainable site management has also been the subject of academic studies.

Melen River (Melen Çayı)Düzce rafting · Melen rafting · Melen Çayı

A river in Düzce, about three hours from Istanbul and Ankara; with its moderately difficult 12 km section, it is one of the most popular places for day-trip rafting.

Because it is fed by snowmelt and rain, it is at its liveliest between February and May. IRF guide courses have also been held on the Melen since 2013.

Fırtına River (Fırtına Deresi)Fırtına Çayı · Rize rafting · Fırtına Deresi

A river in Rize that flows down from the Kaçkar Mountains; with its green valley, it is one of the best-known rafting rivers on the Black Sea coast.

In the IRF register, it is the place where the most guide certificates have been obtained in Türkiye (43 records as of October 2026).

Çoruh River (Çoruh Nehri)Çoruh rafting · Coruh River · Çoruh Nehri

A river flowing through Erzurum and Artvin, famous worldwide for its high flow and long, powerful rapids; some sections reach grade 5.

It is foremost among the rivers that brought Turkish rafting international recognition. Dam projects have significantly changed the sections of the river suitable for rafting.

Baltacı Deresi (Baltacı Stream)Of rafting · Yeniköy Deresi · Baltacı Deresi

A Black Sea stream in the Of district of Trabzon, known along its valley by different names such as Hayrat, Taflancık, Baltacı and Ballıca; its first known rafting descent was announced in an article published by the IRF in 2025.

The article, published by the IRF and written by GTE instructors Mustafa Kaya and Vedat Vural, describes this first descent, made the day after a guide training on Yeniköy Deresi, with a 10-metre concrete barrier, a siphon and a raft rescue operation carried out by climbing the canyon walls. More than 40 guide certificates obtained in the area, according to the IRF register, show that a new rafting community has been born here.