The most important issue is, as @Genghis the Engineer stated, TRAINING. I am minded of a school-trip a few years ago, that went badly wrong, with fatalities. An open canoe, you are clear, the closed ones, as he pointed out, can be capsized and then, with training, righted again, with the occupant still in. I love being ON water, loathe being IN it. raced a Mirror -dinghy for some years and had my share of capsizes . club rules buoyancy aid worn, irrespective of swimming ability! Takes one problem away as well as acting as a body-warmer!
The greater roominess, stability and tolerance of mishandling, is why I suggested a dinghy for this short, one-off mission.....perhaps, though, the OP will get his chopper out and slip a headdress on