As we ease into the rhythm of paddling, Ricardo explains that we’ll be tackling Class I to III rapids, and it’s not long before the water begins to churn. Our speed increases, and Ricardo has us standing up, facing outwards, bracing our shins against the inflated sides of the craft and hooking our feet beneath its inner edges. Though the RIB is barely bouncing, I feel a shot of exhilaration as it gathers momentum through the tumult.