BEACH LIFEGUARD COURSES

Here at Outer Reef, we have been running surf lessons and professional development courses for over 25 years both in our home county of Pembrokeshire and worldwide. 

We still love teaching the next generation of surfers, paddle boarders and beach lifeguards, whether it’s on a windswept beach in Wales, or on the beaches of France or Bali. 

Our fearless leader, Dean, is a true waterman and has represented the GB in competitive surfing. He is a surf ambassador for UK/Europe, Indonesia and Sri Lanka, helping national governing bodies create a clear pathway for the sports development. With 25 years of experience in Surf, Sup and Lifesaving development to all ages and abilities, Dean is also very proud to work together with Disability Sport Wales, local community organisations, junior and secondary schools, National Trust and Pembrokeshire County Council, as well as global governing bodies.

We often employ people, especially locals, who have completed courses with us, so be sure to ask if you are looking for employment and we can let you know if we have any availability.

Yes we are. We have £10 million public liability insurance and all instructors & surf crew are fully qualified & members of the NGB.

Our Pembrokeshire courses will be held at our Activity Centre on Gupton Farm, Castlemartin, SA71 5HW.

Accommodation is not included in the cost of the course but we can recommend great value for money accommodation in the nearby area. 

Yes. All candidates must hold a current Surf Life Saving Great Britain membership in order to be registered on the course and receive their qualification.

If you already have an active membership for the current year, there’s nothing else to do.

If not, you can either add the membership when booking your course with us, or organise it directly with SLSGB before the course begins.

This is a governing body requirement and must be completed before the course starts so that we can register everyone correctly.

Yes. The SLSGB Beach Lifeguard award is the beach lifeguard qualification people often refer to as the NVBLQ.

This course is great for anyone wanting to work on the beach, become a surf instructor, build lifesaving skills, improve their water confidence, or open up more opportunities in the outdoor industry.

You must be at least 16 years old on the day of assessment to complete the Beach Lifeguard course.

Yes. You need to be confident in the sea and comfortable swimming in open water. This is a physical course, so arriving water confident will make a big difference.

You do not need to be an elite athlete, but you do need a good level of fitness. The course includes swimming, running, rescue practice, board work and practical assessments.

Yes. This is the recognised beach lifeguard qualification and is a great route if you want to work on the beach, build lifesaving skills, or move towards RNLI lifeguarding.

Definitely. This course works really well alongside surf instructor training and gives you strong rescue, first aid and beach safety skills for working in the surf industry.

No. You do not need any previous lifeguarding experience to join the course. We’ll guide you through the training step by step.

The course covers beach safety, rescue skills, first aid, CPR, practical scenarios, board work and the key skills needed to work as a beach lifeguard.

Your qualification is valid for 2 years from the date of assessment.

Yes. It is a recognised professional lifeguard qualification and a strong option if you want to work on beaches, support surf coaching, or build your water safety career.

Bring swimwear, a towel, warm clothes, food, water, a pen and notebook, and any personal medication you may need. If you have your own wetsuit and gear, feel free to bring it. If not, just let us know what you need.

Do not stress. If there are parts of the course you do not complete, we offer a 3 month grace period for you to come back and finish the missing elements on a future course date. Depending on what is left, this may mean joining for part of a day, a full day, or more.

AIM

• To provide a National award for the Beach Lifeguard Course covering; fitness, practical lifeguarding skills & knowledge, rescue, life support & first aid in Wales and the rest of the UK Beaches 

PRE-REQUISITE

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age & be able to swim 400m in under 7 minutes 30 seconds before the date of the examination

VALIDITY OF LIFEGUARD COURSES & AWARD

• 24 months from the date of the examination

To provide a National award for the Beach Lifeguard Course covering; fitness, practical lifeguarding skills & knowledge, rescue, life support & first aid in Wales and the rest of the UK

SLSGB LIFEGUARD PRE-REQUISITE

• Be a minimum of 16 years of age on the date of examination
• VALIDITY OF SURF lifeguard Courses & Award

• 24 months from the date of the examination 
• This Beach Lifeguarding Award establishes a standard that allows candidates to become full SLSGB Nars Beach Lifeguards, which is Internationally Recognised.

The course is held over 40 hours of training plus 1 day examination by SLSGB Examiners. The course includes a fitness test involving a  timed swim of 400m, that must be completed in 7min 30sec. Candidates must be able to achieve this before attending the course.

Course Cost only £195 PER PERSON 

Fitness Test & Releases

Complete a timed swim of 400 metres over a measured course, in a pool not less than 25 metres in length, using a front stroke. A time of 7:30 minutes is accepted as the maximum time permitted for the swim.

Complete a timed run of 200 metres over a measured course, on a beach. A time of 40 seconds is accepted as the maximum time permitted for the run.

Lifeguard Skills, Knowledge & Rescue

Whilst in a Pool, demonstrate two releases selected by the Examiner.

In Open Water, demonstrate effectively the ability to carry out the following:

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of all signals
• Run 50 metres with a rescue tube, swim 100 metres (fins optional) to an unconscious,non-breathing patient.
• Demonstrate deep water EAV during which time the patient shall be deemed to have become conscious. Bring the patient to shore and demonstrate appropriate aftercare. The exercise must be carried out under simulated rescue conditions with an appropriate attempt to perform the rescue ‘as quickly as possible’.
• Rescue an unconscious, non-breathing, patient 150 metres from the shore using a rescue board. Demonstrate deep water supported EAV and return with the patient to the shore
• Rescue a conscious patient from the sea (approx. 50m from shore) without equipment demonstrating appropriate patient management and care.
• Demonstrate the ability to surface dive to a depth of approximately 2m. This may be completed during entry into the water for the tube rescue.
• Acting as a Lifeguard, as the team leader and as part of a team, initiate the appropriate procedures at an incident and provide aftercare for 1 or 2 patients from a previously unknown simulated emergency situation. At the completion of the test, complete an Incident Report form.
• Answer 5 questions from the worksheets (Beach Environment section) without referring to any notes. A mark of at least 4 is accepted as the minimum score permitted.
• Answer 10 questions from the worksheets (Lifeguard Techniques section) without referring to any notes. A mark of at least 8 is accepted as the minimum score permitted.
• Answer 5 questions from the worksheets (Communication section) without referring to any notes. A mark of at least 4 is accepted as the minimum score permitted.
• As part of a team, rescue a prone patient with a suspected spinal injury and remove to safety. Demonstrate appropriate action and aftercare

Using a live simulated unconscious patient demonstrate:

• Scene safety and assessment
• Turning a patient from prone to supine
• Checking the airway, checking for signs of breathing and of circulation
• The action for vomiting and blockages
• The recovery position and aftercare
• Obtaining an airway on a suspected spinal injury patient using jaw thrust
• Using a suitable adult manikin, demonstrate Expired Air Ventilation using supplementary oxygen via an approved method (may be continuous with above)
• Using a suitable adult manikin, demonstrate Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Demonstrate CPR on a:
• Child manikin
• Baby manikin

Acting individually, initiate the appropriate procedures at an incident and provide them aftercare for one or two patients from a previously unknown simulated first aid situation.

Answer 10 questions from the worksheets (First Aid and Resuscitation section) without referring to any notes. A mark of at least 8 is accepted as the minimum score permitted.

• Complete the syllabus for the examination
• The examination may be completed in sections providing that ALL sections are completed within three calendar months.
• Candidates MUST complete Section 1 (Fitness & Releases) before completing Section 2 (Lifeguard Skills, Knowledge & Rescue).
• Should the examination be completed over a 3 month period, the 36 month validity will commence from the date on which the first section was completed.
• When the award is renewed, the candidate may complete the examination one month prior to the expiration date of the old award. In this case, the 36 month period will start on the
• expiration date of the old award.

(Sections 3 & 4 above constitute the Emergency Aid 2 Award)