200m Safety Badge

All junior members who wish to use foam or fibreglass paddleboards and/or swim beyond waist depth must pass their 200m safety test. This is a mandatory safety requirement which demonstrates that junior members are confident in the ocean and capable of returning to shore if they are separated from their equipment. Junior members must have the badge fixed to their togs or beanie and they must also wear their high visibility safety vest.

• It is the clubs responisiblilty to ensure the 200m Safety Badge is loaded into the PAM database.

Candidates must swim 200 metres (using any stroke) in either ocean or pool. Following the 200 metre swim candidates will be  expected to tread water for 1 minute. This 1 minute of treading  water is included within the total time allocation. The pool swim is  8 minutes total with swim to be completed within 7 minutes and  the ocean swim is 10 minutes with swim to be completed within 9minutes. It is expected that candidates will demonstrate they are  confident in the ocean and are capable of returning to shore if they  are separated from their equipment. The examiner is an appointed  Club Officer. This person must be a qualified and refreshedlifeguard. Time allocation: 8 minutes pool, 10 minutes sea is a  realistic time limit for the above test, which involves survival skills  (treading water) and fitness (200m swim).

Note: The above requirements are recommended to be re-tested annually.

Clubs can order 200m Saftey Badges from the club shop here