ASI Surf Water Safety Rescue Award

This course equips participants with essential surf ocean rescue skills and knowledge. Ideal for instructors or anyone wanting to gain rescue skills.

You’ll learn how to safely assist both conscious and unconscious individuals using rescue boards, in small breaking wave conditions.

Available as either a practical half‑day workshop or an online learning course.

Aim

Perform simple rescues in the ocean in breaking waves of 1 ½ feet (½ metre).

Locations / Remit

Ocean with wave size 1½ ft (½ metre)
Sandy beach and ocean floor with even gradient (no rocks or reef)

Career Outcomes

Water safety roles within the surfing industry or outdoor recreation industry.
Instructors and assistant instructors.

Topics Covered

Identify emergency situations
Respond to emergency situations
Emergency signals applicable for SUP activities
Incident reporting
Apply SUP rescue techniques using SUP board
Demonstrate in-water rescues on conscious and unconscious patients using SUP board single and double roll methods
Prone paddling with client, landing safely to shore techniques
Identify the signs of potential spinal injuries and respond and treat accordingly

Study Option

This course offers the following study options:

Workshop: Ideal for people who like to complete most of the course requirements at the workshop and interact with the trainer.

Face to face (in-person) training
Complete most course requirements at the workshop.

Online Learning: Ideal for people who would like flexibility to complete their training.

Work at your own pace.
Using ASI's e-learning platform with access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments.

Topics Covered

Identify emergency situations
Respond to emergency situations
Emergency signals and incident reporting
Apply surf rescue techniques using rescue board or longboard
Demonstrate simulated in-water rescues on conscious and unconscious patients using rescue board
Identify the signs of potential spinal injuries and respond and treat accordingly
Prone paddling patient to shore with landing techniques

Entry Requirements

Before starting this course, you must:

Be medically and physically fit.
Able to swim a minimum of 200 metres (650 ft) with crawl stroke, run 200 metres (650 ft), paddle your surfboard 200 metres (650ft) within 10 minutes,without stopping in the ocean in small breaking waves,

Course Requirements - Workshop

Face to face (in-person) training. Complete most course requirements at the workshop.

Duration: 4 hours

What we Provide
ASI Surf Water Safety Rescue manual (paper)
1 free re-assessment

At Workshop

Complete multi-choice test.
Complete timed fitness mission test. Swim 200 metres (650 ft) with crawl stroke, run 200 metres (650 ft), paddle your surfboard 200 metres (650ft) within 10 minutes, without stopping, in the ocean in small breaking waves.
Demonstrate rescue of unconscious person. Using double roll method with a rescue board (in deep water) and paddling patient successfully back to shore, through small breaking waves.

Other

Submit current first aid certificate
Submit identification

First Aid Certificates can be provided either before or after the workshop, or within 12 months of enrolment. However, your ASI Rescue certificate will only be issued once we receive your First Aid Certificate.
See: Acceptable First Aid certificates

Course Requirements - Online

Study in your own time with ASI's e-learning platform. Upload video to demonstrate skills.

Duration: 5-15 hours

What we Provide
ASI Surf Water Safety Rescue online manual
1 free assessment plus 1 free reassessment

Course Requirements

Read / review course materials / videos.
Complete online multi-choice test.
Submit video demonstrating timed fitness mission test. Swim 200 metres (650 ft) with crawl stroke, run 200 metres (650 ft), paddle your surfboard 200 metres (650ft) within 10 minutes, without stopping, in the ocean in small breaking waves.
Submit video demonstrating rescue of unconscious person. Using double roll method with a rescue board (in deep water) and paddling patient successfully back to shore, through small breaking waves.

Other

Submit current first aid certificate
Identification

Equipment

The following equipment and clothing is required to complete the training:

Rescue board or longboard
Surf clothing suitable for conducting rescues

In addition, for the online learning courses:

Computer or device to access ASI e-learning platform
Another person to be your patient
Video camera or mobile phone to take video of practical skills
GPS tracking device such as a watch or phone GPS apps to record your fitness mission test eg...map my run. Or submit google map.

ASI’s E-learning Platform Provides access to training manuals, videos, reference materials and assessments, includes built-in language translation.

Certificate Issued

ASI Surf Water Safety Rescue Award

(Valid for 24 months or 12 months in Australia)

Additional Certificate

ASI also issues education department approved training certificates.

Australia Only
ASI is an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and also issues the following certificate to students undertaking training in Australia.
Australian Department of Education. Registered Training Organisation RTO ID 91496

Statement of Attainment in Certificate II in Public Safety (Aquatic Rescue) (PUA20119)
for units of competency:
SISORSC007 Perform basic surf rescues

Renewal

There is no renewal. To obtain a new certificate, participants complete the course again.

FAQs

Time to Complete: You have 12 months to complete all course requirements.

Assessment Fees: If you use up your free assessments, additional resubmissions are available for a small fee. Fees