[Slickcraft]

That kayaker was a quick thinker, also lucky.

As former white water kayakers my wife and I always wear PFDs when flat water kayaking. If you end up in the water without a PFD, most likely the wind is kicking up waves and by the time you surface, the boat with PFD attached will have been blown away.

When crossing from Welch up to the forty islands we ofter encounter a boat on plane that does not appear to see us 'till pretty close. I had wondered about what to do if the collision was imminent and had concluded that exiting the boat and going under water was the only hope.

Two years ago we got manual control inflatable PFDs for general boating. As they are approved for flat water kayaking (but not white water) we use them when canoeing or kayaking on the lake. They would allow a dive prior to inflation. The auto inflating type would not be a help here.

BTW, there is also a white water situation, caught in a keeper hole, where removing the PFD and diving may be the only last resort way out (spoken form experience).