The Course
Superyacht In-Water Supervision & Rescue
Bridge the gap between maritime emergencies and recreational guest water safety
Superyacht crews are trained to respond to emergencies. But supervising guests during recreational water activities requires a different set of practical skills.
Our flagship two-day course minimises classroom theory while maximising time in the water. Your crew will build the practical skills, judgement and muscle memory needed to recognise developing risks, respond effectively and carry out rescues when it matters.
Practical capability, when it matter
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Prevent
Recognise hazards, assess changing sea conditions and mitigate risks before they escalate.
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Supervise
Develop active scanning techniques. Understand the responsibilities of effective in-water supervision.
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Respond
Spot developing distress – from fatigue and panic to an unresponsive swimmer.
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Rescue & recover
Execute open-water rescues and safely recover people from the water into a tender or back onboard.
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Work together
Build strong crew communication, clear emergency roles and a coordinated team response.
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Format
100% practical, scenario-based water training
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Duration
2 days (additional days available for extensive watersports programmes)
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Focus
In-water supervision, prevention, rescue and recovery
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Location
Onboard your vessel and in local confined and open-water environments
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Participants
Crew responsible for guest safety on the water
Who is it for? Any crew member responsible for guest safety on the water
No two crew members start with the same level of water confidence. This course builds capability across your entire team helping everyone understand how they contribute to a coordinated rescue response.
Two days. Real world progression.
Day 1 - Foundations & confined water training
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1. Safety & supervision
Risk awareness, prevention and effective in-water supervision.
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2. Equipment & rescue skills
Learn to use rescue aids and develop core techniques in a controlled environment.
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3. Team response
Understand roles, communication and how individual skills come together in a rescue.
Day 2 - Open water training & real-world scenarios
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1. Marine environment rescue
Apply practical techniques in a realistic marine environment, adapting to changing conditions.
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2. Complex scenarios
Manage simulated emergencies from panic and distress to unresponsive swimmers.
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3. Recovery & return onboard
Practise drills pulling casualties safely into tenders and onto the yacht under pressure.
No two yachts are identical.
Your safety training shouldn't be either.
We adapt to your vessel layout, onboard equipment and guest profile:
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Your swim platform
Practise approaches, rescues and recovery around your yacht's access points.
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Your tenders
Train using the tenders, access points and equipment your crew uses onboard.
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Your water toys
Build scenarios around the recreational equipment and activities your guests enjoy.
Training that fits your yacht
Every yacht and crew is different. Talk to us about your requirements and we’ll tailor the training to your operation. And for yachts with extensive recreational or watersports programmes, we’ll add training days to develop more specialised scenarios and skills.
A rescue is a team effort
When an incident occurs on the water, a coordinated response is essential. This course moves your crew past individual capabilities to create a shared approach to prevention, response and recovery.
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Clear roles
Zero hesitation about who commands the tender, who enters the water and who manages communication.
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Effective coordination
Faster recovery times through standardised, practised vessel drills.
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Total readiness
A crew that projects calm authority, reassuring guests at all times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should attend the course?
The course is designed for superyacht crew who are responsible for – or involved in – supervising guests during recreational water activities.
Do participants need previous lifeguarding experience?
No. The course is designed to develop practical in-water supervision and rescue capability, with skills introduced progressively throughout the two days.
What are the prerequisites?
There are no specific qualifications or swimming requirements for this course. Participants simply need to be superyacht crew members.
Can we train multiple crew members?
Yes. In-water safety is a team responsibility, and training multiple members of the crew can help establish clear roles, communication and a shared approach to responding to incidents.
Is the training classroom-based?
No. The course is designed around practical learning. Participants complete a small amount of theory before the course start date, covering the essential knowledge they need. The majority of the training is focused on practical exercises, repetition and realistic scenarios.
Can the course be tailored to our yacht?
Yes. Training can be adapted around your vessel, equipment, layout and the recreational activities your guests enjoy. Additional days can also be added for yachts with more extensive watersports programmes.
Where does the training take place?
Training takes place onboard your vessel, with practical elements in appropriate confined- and open-water environments. Training is designed to reflect the marine environment in which your crew operate.
What equipment do we need?
Participants only need weather-appropriate swimming attire. The complete rescue equipment set used during training includes rescue floats, throw bags, fins, masks and snorkels. We can advise on the appropriate equipment for your yacht.
What happens after the course?
The course is designed to give crews practical skills that they can continue to practise and apply onboard. We can also advise on appropriate rescue equipment and additional training where required.
Is this a replacement for mandatory maritime training or first aid certification?
No. Superyacht Lifeguards complements existing mandatory training. The course addresses the specific practical skills involved in supervising and responding to recreational in-water activities, an area not covered in depth by standard maritime certification.
Is there an assessment or examination?
Participants complete a knowledge review of the relevant theory. There is no exam as this is not a pass or fail course.
How far in advance should we book?
The earlier, the better! That said, we understand that the superyacht industry is dynamic, and will always do our best to accommodate your timelines and deadlines.
Make every guest experience on the water safer
Give your crew the practical skills, judgement and confidence to manage recreational water activities safely – so they’re prepared when it matters.
Talk to us- Course enquiries
- Yacht-specific training
- Rescue equipment