Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification

Open water swimming is one of the fastest-growing sports in the UK. The Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification has been designed to equip open water lifeguards with the skills required to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assessed activities in still, non-tidal water.

The RLSS UK Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification is unsuitable for moving water environments.

About the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification

The Open Water Lifeguard qualification equips lifeguards with the skills to supervise and provide rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assured activities in still, non-tidal water.

The OWL course is delivered over 3 days and covers a range of CPR, first aid, and open water skills.

The OWL course is at least 18 hours long and followed by a practical and theory assessment. The OWL qualification is a non-regulated.

Upon qualifying with the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification, the certificate is valid for 2 years from the date of successful completion.

The course is 3 days long, from 9am-5pm, with the assessment on the final day. You must attend all three days of the course and must arrive at 8:30am to register for the day.

Prerequisites to do an OWL Course

Every candidate attending an Open Water Lifeguard course must:

• Be 16 years old or over at the time of assessment.
• Be competent and confident in jumping or diving into deep open water.
• Before the course, candidates must be able to swim at least 400 metres in a pool/open water, swimming continuously on their front and showing urgency.
• Be able to submerge under the water confidently (temp approx 16c in October).
• No prior first aid knowledge is required.

Who is the Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) Qualification Recommended for?

The OWL qualification is recommended for anyone who wants to become an open water lifeguard in the UK and Ireland.

OWL Course Content

The Open Water Lifeguard (OWL) qualification enables candidates with no previous lifeguard experience to become qualified. By attaining this qualification, candidates will have been assessed as competent to provide supervision and rescue cover for planned, organised, and risk-assessed activities in open water that are still, non-tidal.

The candidate manual and trainer resources help the Open Water Lifeguard Trainer Assessor deliver through the 3 sections:

• Section 1 - The Open Water Lifeguard, environment, hazards and supervision
• Section 2 - Responding to an emergency and taking action
• Section 3 - CPR and first aid

New candidates: 18 hours + assessment

OWL Assessment Criteria

The OWL assessment takes place at the end of the course. It determines your competence, skills and knowledge of working as an open water lifeguard and assesses your ability to apply them in an open water environment.

The assessment is split into 4 elements and includes both theory and practical assessment methods:

• Open Water Lifeguard Theory
• Life Support and First Aid Theory
• First Aid Practical
• Open Water Skills Practical

More information: https://www.rlss.org.uk/open-water-lifeguard-qualifications

OWL Course Costs

The OWL course and assessment costs a total of £250. 

There are 6 spaces available at a heavily discounted rate for North Wales residents that are Welsh speaking. These funded places form part of efforts to increase the number of Welsh-speaking qualified individuals within the outdoor activity sector in North Wales, helping to strengthen the sector's capacity to provide opportunities through the medium of Welsh. This is a sector where there is an identified shortage of Welsh-language provision. This offer supports the goal of increasing the number of Welsh speaking instructors in the outdoor sector. If you meet this criteria please select the discounted ticket, and complete the following form: https://external-forms.viewsapp.net/forms/v/b5ce23f2-ca37-42ea-877f-c7fd3708b296 

Funding has been provided by The Outdoor Partnership and Gwynedd Council.

Please note the course content, delivery and handbook will be in English.

Kit List

Please come prepared to spend extended periods outdoors and in cold water daily. Weather conditions may vary.

Essential Water Kit

• Wetsuit suitable for open water swimming

• Swimwear (to wear under wetsuit)

• Neoprene socks, gloves and hat if you usually wear them 

• Brightly coloured swimming hat

• Old t shirt and shorts to wear over the top of the wetsuit

• Shoes like crocs for standing on shore

• Towels

• Warm hat

• Dryrobe or similar, or old warm coat for between activities.

Clothing & Personal Kit

• Warm layers (thermal base layers recommended)

• Waterproof jacket

• Comfortable outdoor clothing

• Spare dry clothes for each day

• Extra socks

• Sturdy footwear for shoreline work

• Sun hat / sunscreen (yes, even in Wales)

Food & Hydration

• Packed lunch for each day

• High-energy snacks

• Hot drink flask

• Hot water and tea/coffee making facilities will be available (bring your own mug)

Personal Items

• Any personal medication (e.g. inhaler)

• Personal first aid items/blister care

• Notebook and pen

• Watch (helpful for timed exercises)

Any questions, please email rachael@penybrynoutdoor.cymru prior to booking.