Australian Whitewater Rafting Grading System (1995)
The river grading system used for grading the degree of
difficulty for river travel in Australia is as listed
hereunder. Rapids are divided into six broad categories;
from grade [1] which is flat, or still water to a grade [6]
which is difficult enough to tax the most experienced crew
of rafters to the limit. The ability of a paddler, thrown
from his raft, to swim through a rapid in safety is also a
consideration when rapid grades are fixed.
The grade of difficulty of any given section of
whitewater will depend upon the degree of skill required to
negotiate it, or indirectly, upon the nature of the
obstruction that the raft crew needs to overcome.
Grades do vary when water levels vary. As a
generalisation grades tend to go higher as water levels
increases because of the steep nature of river gradients in
this country. These grades are referred to as the NORMAL
grade. Below are the general characteristics of the six
grades of whitewater.
| RAPID GRADE 1 |
Rapids are small regular waves. The
passage is clear an easy to recognise and negotiate.
Care may be needed with obstacles like fallen trees
and bridge piers. |
| RAPID GRADE 2 |
Rapids with regular medium sized
waves (less than 1 m); low ledges or drops; easy
eddies and gradual bends. The passage is easy to
recognise and is generally unobstructed although
there may be rocks in the main current, overhanging
branches or log jams. |
| RAPID GRADE 3 |
Rapids with fairly high waves (1-2
m); broken water, stoppers and strong eddies;
exposed rocks; small falls. The passage may be
difficult to recognise from on the river and
inspection from the bank may be required.
Maneuvering to negotiate the rapids is required. |
| RAPID GRADE 4 |
Difficult rapids with high,
powerful, irregular waves; broken and confused
water; often boiling eddies; strong stoppers;
ledges; drops and dangerous exposed rocks. The
passage is often difficult to recognise and
inspection from the bank is preferable. Precise and
sequential maneuvering is required. |
| RAPID GRADE 5 |
Very difficult rapids with confused
and broken water; large drops; violent and fast
currents; abrupt turns; difficult powerful stoppers
and fast boiling eddies; numerous obstacles in the
main current. Detailed inspection from the bank is
normally required and is strongly recommended for
rapids not recently transited at the prevailing
water level. Complex, precise and powerful
sequential maneuvering is required. A buoyancy vest
equipped swimmer risks injury and this is the
extreme for commercial operations. |
| RAPID GRADE 6 |
All previous difficulties increased
to the limit of practicability. Nearly impossible,
very dangerous and cannot be attempted without a
definite risk of life. |
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