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At the beginning of 2020, the NSRI launched its Survival Swimming Programme, which teaches children the basic skills to stay afloat should they find themselves in difficulty in the water.

The initiative came about after several stories emerged involving children drowning a metre or two from safety. They would not have needed to swim 50 metres to survive; they would only have needed to know how to move as little as five metres through the water to get to safety.

Our squads, made up of full time professional instructors and volunteers who want to share their joy of swimming with children, visit public swimming pools to teach the basics of survival swimming:

During one of our pilot programme sessions, it took just one two-hour lesson, for four instructors to assess and upskill 55 children.

These lessons are offered free of charge and are organised with the kind permission of facilities’ officers and by appointment.

In this section

The NSRI has three core Drowning Prevention programmes – Water Safety Education, Pink Rescue Buoys and Survival Swimming – and offers a range of free resources and educational materials.

Caville Abrahams  DROWNING PREVENTION: REGIONAL TEAMLEADER (WESTERN CAPE)

“What drives me is knowing the Survival Swimming skills we teach, not only can save a life one day but will also change the lives of generations to come.’’

Caville Abrahams, Drowning Prevention Regional Team Leader

READ MORE ABOUT SURVIVAL SWIMMING

Zinitha Manavele 1440x500
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 21 May 2025

Zinitha’s remarkable journey from fearful beginner to inspiring instructor

When 18-year-old Zinitha Manavele first arrived at the Long Street swimming pool in October 2024, she could barely swim and was scared of water. Less than six months later, she’s a certified volunteer survival swimming instructor inspiring young learners – and the entire NSRI team.

Survival swimming ceres 1440x500
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 21 May 2025

Starting young: teaching toddlers water safety in Ceres

In a classroom in Ceres, a penguin and a tortoise are helping teach some of the town’s youngest children how to stay safe around water. These soft toys are part of the NSRI’s water safety lessons for children in creches. But thanks to the initiative of Drowning Prevention Instructor Eoudia Erasmus, the programme has taken a bold next step: bringing 3-, 4- and 5-year-olds into the pool to learn survival swimming.

Nduli SS Banner
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 15 April 2025

Survival Swimming reaches N’duli Primary

As the summer season draws to a close, so too does another successful chapter of the NSRI’s Survival Swimming programme in Ceres. While hundreds of children benefited from weekly lessons in the municipal pools, one school, N’duli Primary, unfortunately, could not participate this season as the programme was already at full capacity.

Survival swimmig dam banner
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 13 December 2024

From pool to dam: A Survival Swimming milestone for young swimmers

Eight children recently put their Survival Swimming lessons to the test in an open-water environment after mastering essential skills in Survival Swimming Centre 1's swimming pool container.

St Andrews 1
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 20 November 2024

Life saving lessons: NSRI's Survival Swimming Programme empowers Makhanda learners

On Saturday, 19th October, St Andrew's College, in collaboration with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and Station 11 Port Alfred, launched an impactful series of Survival Swimming lessons at the DT Hudson Pool complex.

Fluidra SSC 1
SURVIVAL SWIMMING  | Published: 20 November 2024

Festive gift packs: A heartfelt thank you to Survival Swimming Centre instructors

In a heartwarming gesture of appreciation, Fluidra recently donated Christmas gift packs to instructors at NSRI Survival Swimming Centres (SSCs) across the country.