Level 1
Pink Caps
- Pool swim 25 metres
- Open water swim 25 metres
- Survival float for 20 seconds
- Wading and negotiating the waves in and out
- Demonstrate being confident in the waves
- Diving under a wave
- Gliding onto a wave from standing position
- Run wade run 25m x 50m x 25m
- Body board using leash, catching a wave, paddlingÂ
- Six theory questions
Level 2 Blue Caps – 200m Safety Badge
- Pool swim 50 metres
- Open water swim 50 metres
- Wading with correct technique
- Negotiating waves in and out
- Survival float for 30 seconds
- Body surfing catching a wave, stroke on wave
- Tread water 30 seconds
- Run swim (or dolphin dive) run 30m x 50m x 30m
- Paddling lying down, negotiating waves in and outÂ
- Six theory questions
Level 3
Orange Caps
- Pool swim 100 metres
- Open water swim up to 100 metres
- Diving under a wave
- Wade, dolphin diving to waist depth, swim
- Body surfing, on a wave, stroking on wave
- Tread water 1 minute
- Run swim run 50m x 75m x 50m
- Achieving three of the following on a board: surfing along a wave with fins, going over the top of a wave on the way out, going under a wave, eskimo roll
- Six theory questions
Level 4
Gold Caps
- Pool swim 200 metres in 7 minutes
- Ocean water swim 200 metres
- Swim with a tube, fins and patient
- Diving under wave, pushing off the bottom
- Body surfing, swimming to catch a wave
- Tread water 1 minute
- Run swim run 50m x 100m x 50m
- Board paddling, kneeling, negotiating surf, turning, catching a wave, and holding on, paddling with a patient
- Paddling with two on board
- Five theory questions
Level 5
Green Caps
- Pool swim 200 metres in 5 minutes and/or ocean water swim 200 metres
- Diving under wave, 5 dolphin dives
- Body surfing, swimming to catch a wave
- Hand up for 30 seconds to signal for help – notify patrol captain before doing
- Swim with tube, fins and patient following a patient pick up
- Tread water 2 minutes, assistance required
- Run swim run 100m x 200m x 100m
- Board catching unbroken wave, turning around buoy, punching through white water, recovering from falling off your board
- Controlling your board and changing direction
- Paddle two to a board
- Pick up a patient on a board
- Four theory questions
Level 6
Aqua Caps
- Pre requisite – level 5 award
- 200 metre pool swim in 4.5 minutes
- Run swim run in the ocean (100m run including the wade, 200m swim, 100m run) in 7 minutes
- Tow a patient in a rescue tube a minimum distance of 30m the rescuer must wear flippers
- Six theory questions