The sea kayak is designed for navigating coastal waters and is intended for use on the open sea. It should be unsinkable, and propelled using muscle power. Its small size enables a particularly close encounter with the marine environment and the adjacent coastal area.

A trip along German coastal waters requires good boat management and a particularly good knowledge of an area that is not without its dangers (see under: Training). The shallow waters make it possible to paddle where other watercraft cannot go.The German coastal area is abundant with animal and plant life, almost unsurpassed for its diversity.The areas are sensitive to human incursion. Kayakers require a good knowledge of the local conditions, need to carry appropriate safety equipment, have the necessary experience, and be physically fit.

The North Sea and the Baltic have separate characteristics. Accordingly, we have two separate sea touring areas. These are described separately, below.

The North Sea is the eastern extension of the Atlantic Ocean, over the European Continental Shelf. With the exception of the New Red-sandstone island of Heligoland, (lying approximately 40 km from the mainland coast,) the coast of the German Bight consists of sand and mud flats. Crucial to navigation is knowledge of tidal flow and range (Range is normally between 2 to 4 metres). The tidal mud-flats (the Wattenmeer) extend up to 30 kilometres from the mainland coast and dry out at low water. Tidal flow between the mud flats can reach quite considerable speeds. When affected by wind-against-tide conditions, short steep waves are generated and these make paddling and progress difficult.

The Wattenmeer extends between den Helder (in the Netherlands) to the west and Esbjerg (Denmark) in the north; a distance of some 500 km (of which, approximately 300 kilometres lie in Germany).
The outer edge of the Wattenmeer (basically to the West of the Weser delta) is characterized by elongated dune islands and sand banks, exposed at high water (Platen).
Along the North Frisian coast, (the West coast of Schleswig-Holstein) lie the Halligen (islands which are surrounded by sea defences) and other islands, also enclosed by sea defences, with dunes, and all lying off the mainland. Between these islands lie extensive mud flats and sand banks.

With both flood and ebb, enormous masses of water flow in and out of the region, through deep channels (Seegat), which can be up to 40 metres deep, and which branch out into tidal gullies (Priel) where currents can reach 2 – 4 knots (3.7 - 7.4 km/h) between the islands and/or Halligen and the mainland coast.

Where there is little lateral water movement, along the mainland coast, where there are numerous small harbours, suspended sediment is deposited and here, deep ooze can be many metres deep.

The Wattenmeer is in constant change, with its consequent erosion and sedimentation processes, except where man-made dikes and other sea defences have been built to prevent this.

The entire Wattenmeer, including the shallow water zones and the adjoining coastal margins, are rich in fish, sea mammals and birds (essential resting and feeding places for migratory birds!). In 1985, ecologically important areas were designated as National Parks (in Lower Saxony, Hamburg, and Schleswig Holstein). There are a number of ‘exclusion zones’ in each of these national parks and it is important that those wishing to visit the area should consult the relative sea charts to establish where and when one they may travel through these particular zones; where one may land, and in particular where the navigable channels lie.

Paddling through the Wattenmeer is not always possible due to unfavourable weather and unfavourable tides; also, it is not always possible to reach the mainland coast at all states of the tide, except to reach harbours. In addition, it is not possible to travel through all parts of the national parks, in particular through designated exclusion zones.

Trips should be undertaken only in a group and under the guidance of someone who knows the area well. The Salzwasser Union (the German Association of Sea Kayakers) can give further guidance on this.

The Baltic is a shallow inland sea with only three narrow connections to the North Sea, and thus differs in principle with two characteristics from the North Sea: the salinity is low (< 1%), and there are almost no tides, and accordingly no tidal currents. However irregular water level fluctuations and continuous high winds do create some water surface movement. Some places, which are normally under water, do dry out in certain weather conditions – an example of this, is the area to the SW of Hiddensee, which often dries out when winds blow from the land.

The German Baltic Sea coast extends from Flensburg Fjord in Schleswig-Holstein to the island Usedom, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the east, a distance of approximately 500km (when measured from point to point, and considerably more if one measures the length of all the coastline in between).

Characteristically, the Baltic coast consists largely of broad sandy beaches, interspersed with large and small rounded boulders left over from the last Ice Age, and is characterized by low but steep, but, sometimes quite high cliffs. In addition, there are sandy coastal areas with low dunes.

In Schleswig-Holstein there are many inlets (Förden) which penetrate far inland. In the eastern part of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern there is an elongated peninsula (Darß, Zingst) which is separated in several places from the mainland by extensive lagoons - the ‘Bodden’. The coastline of the Bodden is in many places lined with reed beds.

The island of Ruegen takes many forms from narrow peninsulas, extensive sandy bays and chalk cliffs which project far into the Baltic.

In and around the numerous wind-protected bays and inland seas, resting, nesting and feeding places are available to large numbers of sea birds. The national parks of the “Vorpommersche Boddenlandschaft”, and Jasmund, together with the biosphere reserve Suedost Ruegen, have their own regulations which restrict visitor movement within the park reserves. Voluntary agreements have been reached to restrict travel within Wismar Bay and parts of Southeast Ruegen.

Paddling the Baltic Sea coast is far less restrictive than in the North Sea Wattenmeer, due to lack of tides and currents, which makes landing and launching possible at most times. The restrictions that have been imposed are all influenced by the need to protect the environment, in particular where birds gather to nest, feed and rest, and where there are extensive reed beds which offer a haven to birds.