heavy water
safety & rescue 
programme

Heavy Water Safety & rescue programme

Are you a big-wave waterman or waterwoman who is keen to take their heavy water skills to the next level? 

Do you feel like it's time to refresh those jetski rescue skills so you can look after your buddies better?

Well, this is definitely the course for you!

This programme is run in conjunction with Shark Eyes waterman Shanan Worrall and is designed to not only increase personal skill levels, but bring the big-wave surfing community together in a shared teaching space which promotes safe practice in heavy water and gold-standard rescue skills.

​

Course Overview

The Heavy Water Safety & Rescue Programme is designed to foster a culture of 'looking out for your mates' and promotes a skillset that allows students to deal with intense situations.

Some of the topics covered include (but are not limited to):

• Introduction to apnea (breath hold) specific to heavy water conditions and the associated training principals

• Basic first aid, trauma and deadly bleeds

• PWC setup for heavy water use

• Heavy water essential equipment

• Rescue techniques for both paddle and PWC

​

course length

2 days.

​

Who is this course for...?

This course is suitable for intermediate-to-experienced level watermen and waterwomen who want to increase their Heavy Water skillset. Typically, we specify that students have  greater than 5 years experience in ocean environments.

 

PRICING

Starting from AU$600 (excluding GST)

​

Minimum standards

as for specialist watermanship programme

Students must be able to swim and be medically fit (see below).

Students should have good knowledge of general watermanship training and ocean environments (specifically heavy water environs) or have completed the Specialist Watermanship Program or equivalent.

Minimum age is 16.

A valid recreational skippers ticket to be presented on the day of the program.

​

To obtain the Specialist Waterman certification, the candidate must:

• Pass the theory test with a score of at least 80%

• Perform a static apnea of at least 2’30”

• Perform a dynamic-no-fins distance of 35m.

• Perform an underwater disorientation drill of at least 30sec

• Complete a 400m swim in under 14min

• Tread water for 10min (without wetsuit)

• Perform survival swimming techniques correctly

• Perform an unconscious diver rescue from 5m, and perform a black-out rescue on the surface

• Complete a 100m swim, a 50m unassisted tow, unconcious casualty carry and BLS.

• Complete Dynamic No-Fins CO2 table in a maximum of a team of four for a minimum of 10min.

• Correctly demonstrate all the practical components of Survival at Sea which are detailed in the Survival at Sea Standards.

​

inclusions

• Freediving mask and flotation aids

​

what to bring

• Towel

• Wetsuit (board shorts/bikini/swimsuit minimum)

• Water

• Lunch and snacks

• Zink/sunscreen

• Pen and notepad

• Lunch.

​​

Medical Fitness

You will be asked to complete a medical declaration as part of your course registration. Unless you suffer a medical condition that is a contradiction to watermanship training, you will not be required to complete a medical examination.

Students with contradicting medical conditions, however, will be required to undergo a Dive Medical that meets the Australian Standard 4005.1. We require documentation of this prior to course participation.

Medical conditions that are of concern to watermanship training are: lung conditions, heart conditions, epilepsy, diabetes, any ear problems or any other major medical conditions. 

​

If you are in any doubt regarding your medical eligibility please don’t hesitate to contact One Ocean International.