School Surf Education and Surf Skills
A Vital Surf Education & Skills Program for Students
- 3 hour introductory course
- Typically Terms 1 & 4
- Manly, Dee Why, Cronulla, Wollongong or Bondi
This 3hr beach and surf program focuses on the “Float to Survive” life skill, plus hands-on practical surf skills lessons with and without foam surfboards.
The program includes a link, or we can come to the school to present our in-school lesson, which includes vital surf education, focusing on rips, sandbanks and how to manage potentially life-threatening situations by adapting the “Float to Survive” life skill.
This surf education & surf skills program saves lives! It is well recognised that the best way to reduce drowning on our beaches is to surf educate our young Australians through the school system.
Our school surf education and surf skills program is our most popular amongst schools, as the program caters for all students, regardless of surf/swimming ability, age or cultural diversity. Schools normally take this program on as a compulsory excursion and retain their corresponding booking for future year groups.
These programs always result in the kids having big smiles on their faces on the way back to school, from the exhilarating effects of the ocean, achieving their own personal goals and exercising in nature’s playground.
The Program Modules
Module #1
Stillwater Floatation & Basic Aquatic Survival Skills
These float to survive skills are taught in shallow water, where the participants can stand, utilising basic sculling etc. As the kids advance they can be taken into deeper water to further challenge themselves.
Module Details
The “Float to Survive” module is designed to develop water feel, specific strength and confidence to achieve the life skill of floating and a base for learning how to swim correctly.
The “Float to Survive” training model is designed around “feeling the water” and subsequently building specific strength through relaxed techniques without training aids.
Shallow Water Content
Participants will practice five basic techniques to best equip them for a potentially life-threatening scenario – the outcome target being learning how to float and to active float when there is a need to safely reach a destination.
This shallow water content includes core floatation skills and drills – through correct sculling motion drills with relaxed hands and high elbows caressing the water.
The 5 core techniques
- Floating on the stomach – teaching participants to be able to float with an awareness of their surroundings, which they cannot do on their back. Participants need to practice high elbows, water feel and body position, this is particularly beneficial in the surf or a rip.
- Treading Water – teaching participants to combine the high elbow sculling motion (as above) with an eggbeater kick to hold their body above the water, while still being able to comfortably look around at the surroundings.
- Floating on Back – teaching participants to have less focus on using limbs and more focus on body position. We also want to achieve calming breath and relaxed mental focus.
- Active float – using the floating on stomach method, we teach participants to be able to move forward, backward, in circles or any direction with the simple adjustment of hand angles, without using extra energy
- Submerging – teaching participants to comfortably breathe above water and become comfortable to breath hold, while submerging under the waterline. Understanding the direction of hands and forearms will dictate how they will move up and down
Module #2
Use of Foam Boards on Beach & in the Surf
Paddling a foam surfboard and catching waves, the use of rips and the outer surf breaks are included for groups of higher levels. Lining boards up on beach with the participants, we demonstrate a range of lessons, which will then be practiced in the surf close to the shoreline.
Module Details
On the Beach
- Position on boards which need to sit relatively flat in the water to enable fast paddling
- Posture to engage core muscles which will provide balance and strength
- Practice jumping on board on the sand into the correct paddle and posture position
- Describe and demonstrate how to hold/carry the board into the water and over waves
- Describe and demonstrate jumping over waves or paddling through them
- Describe catching a wave, adjusting weight and/or position on board and using hands on side of board at hips as the wave breaks
In the Surf
- Practice running into the surf with boards, (jump on and first strokes) making sure the kids are holding the board correctly.
- Catch waves from a standing position.
- Catching waves from a paddling position
Note: if conditions are suitable, we will use deeper water channels and occasionally safe rips to enable to kids to further develop paddling skills, learn about rips and catching unbroken waves.
Module #3
Surf Negotiation & Body Surfing
In this module, we focus on surf negotiation and body surfing in shallow water, in which the participants can advance into the deeper water and more challenging conditions as their confidence increases.
Module Details
Surf Negotiation
- Describe and demonstrate wading – Teaching kids how to wade in shallow water – knees up and out, using arms to assist with leg lift, land flat footed not on toes.
- Describe and demonstrate Dolphin diving – ensure hands are out front, teaching how to use their arms and dive under/over waves, hands enter the water first and feet last with the goal to touch the bottom.
- Encourage kids to dive under waves when deeper
- body surfing – Show the kids on the beach standing in the streamline position, with hands stretched up and body flat
- Practice catching waves from a standing position (upright not crouched), waiting until the wave is about to hit, then dive outward using arms on top of the water
- If kids are ready to advance, they will work more on skills under the waves to get through the surf break and then to catch the unbroken waves
Module #4
In-school surf education
This module is included as a link to be taught in school by a school teacher. There is an option to have SEA Australia come out to present the lesson for an added fee, or this lesson can be chosen as a one off at times during the year when our practical programs are not active.
Module Details
- Coastal geography & environment
- Surf zones – safe and dangerous areas
- Rip education – identification and easy escape methods
- Waves – negotiating and returning to the beach safely
- Roles of lifegaurds
- Floatation techniques
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Program FAQ's
Common questions and answers about this SEA Australia program. Got another question? Reach out.
Where is this program held?
- Sydney North – Manly Beach, Dee Why beach
- Sydney South – Bondi Beach, Elouera Beach (Cronulla)
- Wollongong – Sandon Point
- In-school options
What do the students learn
- Surf education (rips etc)
- Floatation skills in shallow water
- Foam board paddling and waves close to shore
- Surf negotiation in shallow water
How do customers organise for students to attend?
SEA Australia deals directly with the schools, parents can recommend us to their child’s school.
What do students and teachers need to bring?
Swimmers, towel, thongs or sandals, hat, sunscreen, lunch and drinks, wetsuits are optional.
SEA supplies program rashies and foam boards.
What are the safety protocols during the program?
Most of our venues are pre selected based on their suitability to the program. The program if suitable for all children, we work at the basic (non swimmer level) and and advance each group accordingly. The program is generally conducted in shallow water on a sandbank, and floatation skills are conducted where the kids can stand. Instructors are in the water with the kids, mostly seaward. If the kids do not wish to participate – they are encouraged but not forced to do any activity.
I have more questions, how do I get assistance?
Contact us via our form.
