Essential survival skills for anyone going to sea.
Knowing how to stay alive in an emergency increases your chances of survival dramatically. This one-day RYA Basic Sea Survival course gives you the practical knowledge and confidence to use lifesaving equipment and cope if the worst happens at sea
What Will You Learn?
Our RYA Basic Sea Survival training focuses on real-world survival techniques used by mariners worldwide:
- How survival at sea works — risks and priorities in an emergency
- The correct use and fitting of lifejackets
- Launching, boarding and operating a liferaft
- Understanding liferaft equipment and survival routines
- Techniques for surviving in the water and maximising rescue chances
- Search and Rescue (SAR) basics and how to be found
You’ll hear clear explanation and best practice guidance, often supported by practical demonstrations or drills. Even if you never have to use this training, the confidence and understanding it builds are invaluable at sea.
This course fulfils the RYA’s minimum sea survival requirement for RYA commercial endorsement.
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Read the full Second Star Sailing syllabus
Our student instructor ratio is a maximum of 12:1 (courses with more than 6 participants are split into two sessions). This allows us to give you maximum individual attention and for our instructors to create a bespoke experience for each and every one of our students.
Who Is This Course For?
The RYA Sea Survival Course is essential for:
- Sailors, cruisers and blue-water adventurers preparing for offshore passages
- Charter crew or commercial operators seeking recognised safety training
- Recreational boaters who want to be prepared for serious emergencies
- Anyone heading offshore or spending extended time at sea
This course is valuable whether you’re a weekend sailor, cruising family, professional crew, or preparing for higher RYA qualifications — survival knowledge is universally relevant at sea.
Pre-Requisites
- Minimum age: none
- No previous experience required, however you must be able to swim
- Recommended: Purchase the RYA Sea Survival Handbook
Price and Availability
This is a one day course is split between time in the classroom and a practical session in the local pool in a shorebased format at our Antigua location.
Price: USD $350 per person
You can find the availability on our online booking platform here. If you don’t see the dates you want, contact us and we may be able to move course around or put you on the waiting list for your specific dates.
Classroom course availability varies by season—book early to secure your preferred dates.
What to Do Next?
Completing this course isn’t just a certificate — it’s peace of mind knowing you’re prepared for serious emergencies offshore. It can also be used to satisfy the sea survival requirement of a RYA commercial endorsement, which also requires RYA Marine Radio (SRC), RYA Professional Practices and Responsibilities and RYA Day Skipper, RYA Coastal Skipper or RYA Yachtmaster certification.
