re: Is it safe to Yak around gators?

You'll be fine. I have been wade fishing with the all around. Nervous the first few times but got used to it after a while. Bigger issue was cottonmouths. I waded out of the water once and had one on the end of my stringer that was tied to my waste. Luckily the stringer was 11' long. I am sure I looked funny running around with 6 bass and a snake trailing behind me.