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This stage serves as an introduction to the fascinating world of swimming. This will boost kids’ confidence and comfort in the water. Participants will begin by learning basic water skills such as the following (but not limited to):

• Start with a slide-in technique to enter the water
• Perform a backstroke for a distance of 5 metres, employing either alternating or simultaneous movement of arms and legs
• Immerse your head in the water, open your eyes, exhale bubbles, and identify an object located on the pool floor
• Do a front float for a duration of 5 seconds, followed by a recovery
• Subsequently, execute a back float for the same duration and return to normal stance
• Propel yourself 10 metres on your front using either alternating or simultaneous movement of arms and legs
• Convey a distress signal and shout out for assistance
• Hang onto a float and maintain a float position for a span of 10 seconds
• Following this, navigate towards the edge of the pool while holding onto the float
• Finally, ensure a safe exit from the pool.

This stage is designed to enhance the essential swimming skills acquired in Stage 1 while integrating more advanced water safety components. A significant aspect of this stage is learning how to use a personal floatation device effectively. Participants are trained to:

• Propel yourself over a distance of 25 metres on your front, utilising either a coordinated or simultaneous stroke with your arms and legs.
• Perform a backstroke for a span of 15 metres, employing either an alternate or synchronous motion of your limbs.

• Enter the water using the step-in technique
• Maintain a front float position for a duration of 10 seconds
• Propel yourself on your front for 5 metres, then execute a rollover
• Hold a back float stance for 10 seconds
• Navigate a distance of 5 metres on your back
• Employ sculling, floating or treading water techniques for half a minute
• Retrieve an item submerged in water of chest-deep level
• Emerge to the surface and ensure a safe exit from the pool.

• Swim for 15 metres using any survival stroke and ensure a safe exit from the water.
• Appropriately adjust a personal flotation device (PFD) and take a plunge into water of at least 1.4 metres in depth
• Undertake a 25-metre swim while wearing the PFD, and successfully exit the water.

This stage builds on the foundational skills acquired in Stage 2 and introduces more complex water safety and survival techniques. It fosters a deeper understanding of personal water safety and aims to increase participants’ water confidence. 

• Swim continuously for 50 metres, including 25 metres of front crawl and 25 metres of backstroke

• Enter the water using a stride or straddle technique (deeper water).
• Swim 25 metres using survival backstroke, followed by a 25-metre breaststroke swim.
• Perform a head-first scull on your back over a distance of 5 metres and then recover
• Implement sculling, floating or treading water techniques for a duration of 50 seconds
• Navigate through hoops located at the pool bottom for a distance of 2 metres.
• Emerge to the surface and make a safe exit from the pool.

• Start by entering the water in deeper parts using a stride or straddle technique
• Perform a 25-metre survival backstroke, immediately followed by a 25-metre breaststroke swim
• Conduct a head-first scull on your back for 5 metres and then recover
• Apply techniques of sculling, floating or treading water for a total of 50 seconds
• Swim a distance of 2 metres through hoops positioned on the pool bottom
• Emerge to the surface and make a safe exit from the pool.

These skills and more are designed to improve our swimmers’ physical endurance and stroke techniques.

This stage brings an intensified focus on deep-end water safety. Participants are exposed to the challenges and safety considerations of swimming in deeper waters. The instructors guide them through the following (but not limited to):

Swim 100 metres continuously while employing 4 different strokes:

• Front crawl
• Backstroke
• Breaststroke
• Survival stroke

• Perform a compact jump (in deep water) while entering. Then resurface and execute a somersault.
• Water treading for 2 minutes.
• Execute a feet-first surface dive in 1.4-metre deep water.
• Navigate through hoops on the bottom of the pool for 2 metres
• Emerge to the surface and make a safe exit from the pool.

• Swim continuously for 2 minutes using survival backstroke, sidestroke, and survival breaststroke. Switch strokes every 15 metres.
• Wave your arms and signal for help (rescuer will throw a floatation device/aid into the water)
• Swim towards the floatation device and kick the edge of the pool. Exit the water safely.

During this stage, swimmers can partake in survival swimming exercises that mimic real-life water hazards, enhancing their resilience and adaptability.

The SwimSafer Silver programme lays the foundation for learning diving basics. It also fosters the growth of personal survival skills by introducing real-life situations. These scenarios might include swift swimming away from a rapidly submerging vessel or navigating through restricted underwater spaces simulated using hoops.

Enter the water using the crouching dive technique then swim the following strokes:

• Front crawl – 50 metres in 1:30 minutes
• Breaststroke – 50 metres in 1:50 minutes
• Backstroke – 50 metres in 1:40 minutes
• Sidestroke – 25 metres 
• Survival backstroke – 25 metres
• Dolphin kick 10 metres on front

• Perform a straddle jump to enter the water
• Perform a backwards somersault
• Perform a surface dive feet-first into the water
• Navigate through hoops situated at the pool’s bottom for a span of 3 metres and then resurface
• Accomplish a rapid 45-metre swim utilising the front crawl technique
• Wave your arms and signal for help (rescuer will throw a floatation device/aid into the water)
• Swim towards the floatation device and kick the edge of the pool. Exit the water safely.
• Exhibit the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique for a duration of 30 seconds
• Subsequently, undertake a 25-metre swim with the PFD and successfully clamber out of the water.

SwimSafer Gold is the highest level of the national programme and represents full water safety competency. Swimmers at this stage demonstrate not just technical proficiency but genuine survival capability in open and deep water. Reaching SwimSafer Gold means your child possesses the skills to handle real-world aquatic challenges with confidence.

At this highest level of the Swimsafer programme, participants master advanced water survival skills, gain proficiency in demonstrating efficient stroke techniques, and refine their personal water survival skills. The key areas covered include:

• Front crawl – 100 metres in 3:00 minutes
• Breaststroke – 100 metres in 4:00 minutes
• Backstroke – 100 metres in 3:20 minutes
• Backstroke – 50 metres 
• Sidestroke – 50 metres
• Butterfly – 15 metres

• Enter deep water using a compact jump technique
• Execute a head first surface dive to a minimum depth of 1.8 metres, conducting ear equalisation if necessary
• Navigate through hoops positioned at the pool’s bottom for a span of 5 metres, subsequently resurfacing
• Complete a swift 45-metre swim employing the front crawl stroke
• Follow this with a slower paced swim over a further 50-metre distance, using any survival stroke of your preference
• While in deep water, remove your trousers within 5 minutes and fashion a flotation device with it while maintaining a treading water stance
• Display the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique using the self-made flotation device for a duration of 1 minute
• Then perform a 25-metre swim with the self-created float and successfully exit the water.

With these stages, we ensure the development of personal water safety skills and continuous stroke improvement, enabling our participants to enjoy deep water safely.