Sea Kayak Launching and Landing

Why not use the paddle?
One of the easiest ways to damage a paddle is to use it to help you get into the kayak. You'll risk scraping the blade against the rocks, snapping the shaft by putting too much of your weight in the wrong place, and compressing the shaft by sitting on it. Once you have learned to get in and out of your kayak smoothly and in balance without using your paddle, you'll be less likely to misplace your weight if you do need to use it.

Landing
Choose your landing spot carefully, and watch for waves that could complicate your exit. In shallows, pop your sprayskirt open. Lift your feet out onto the deck. Grip the cockpit or deck behind you with both hands and push down to lift your butt. As your butt lifts, push your feet down into the water until they touch bottom and launch yourself carefully upright by rolling your weight forward. This will help prevent the kayak from scooting backward and setting you back in your seat again. Keep hold of the kayak while you bring your feet together to one side of the kayak; this will help you balance and prevent it from floating away. If the beach is steep, turn your kayak alongside the shore into shallow water.

Summary
There are many ways to launch and land, but they all depend on balance and timing. Experiment. You can mimic a lot of the moves at home or in your yard, shifting your weight from a box into and out of your kayak. Practice the same moves several times and each time you paddle until launching and landing become the easiest part of your day. You have to get it right if you want to stay dry.