What is 'Paddling' as an activity?

I'd think so. When I kayak, I have to record the activity as 'walking', and then switch it to paddling in the Connect app once it synchronizes.

Have you found a way to be able to track the activity as paddling from the start?

Thanks for the reply. I have not tried to do that yet. I know the distance paddled and time taken (measured by Ripcurl GPS 2 Surf Watch). HR measured by neck pulse and watch timer when paddling. Then manually enter the activity. I was going to use the 'Kayaking' activity as it seemed to me it was 'upper body' based activity (same as surf board knee paddling).

Just on that, my paddle cadence (both arms together whilst kneeing on the board) is about 60 strokes/min for about 1600m distance, average time 20 min. Best time 16 min and worst 26 min, depending on sea conditions (wind, chop and swell)

However, I decided to use 'Paddling' until I got further information. I have also posed the question to Garmin Support, but no answer yet.

I recently purchased a FR 45 watch (Black) which seems to work well and is OK on my small wrist. (would have got a FR 45 Small, but could not get Black) The larger units are too large for me, but I would have liked a water sports type unit.

I will keep experimenting with it and post more when more information comes to hand.

An update on the data above.

When paddling, I tried measuring my HR using the FR 45 wrist based sensor on the 'Cardio' activity. This gave time and HR readings on the watch screen. The time reading allowed a more accurate paddling cadence calculation which varied between 40 and 50 strokes/min depending on the wind chop size which tends to disrupt the paddling action. (60 s/min was an estimate and I now realise it was too high!) Time was accurate and distance of 1.6 km is known to be correct.

BUT, the wrist based HR monitor reported an average of 155 and a max of 170. This HR might be ok if I was 21, but as I am 71 it seems a little too high!!!!  Was the sea water affecting the HR sensor/wrist skin contact?? When Mountain Biking uphill HR av is often 145 and max recorded is 160 (and 160 is at max intensity effort for only a very short time - about 10 to 15 sec) using a chest HR monitor which I know gives correct readings.

So, will now try my chest based HR sensor under my wetsuit to see what sort reading it will give. It felt like the HR reading should have been in the 120 to 140 region based on my cycling experience, but when cycling you are obviously using lower body and no arms, compared to upper body arm paddling and no leg activity.