National Swimming Certificate Awards
SEAL, MARLIN, ORCA Certificates
The Benchmark for Swimming Awards
Children are naturally curious about water and are attracted to it for a wide variety of activities. Water Safety Ireland, the statutory body established by govt to promote water safety in Ireland has developed this programme so that children are encouraged to enjoy aquatic activities by first learning to swim safely.
Ireland has some of the best aquatic environments in the world and Water Safety Ireland is committed to developing programmes that set the standard necessary for everyone to enjoy these environments safely and enjoyably.
Parents and Guardians also benefit with the peace of mind that this programme is Government approved and results from over fifty years of research and development by hundreds of water safety experts. The programme offers a one-stop-shop to learning swimming skills in a safe and carefully planned sequence.
The Swimming Skills Series
The certification consists of a progression of fifteen stages. Children receive a personalised full-colour A4 certificate and (optional) woven colour badge upon completion of each stage. The test items for each stage can be read on pages 3, 4 and 5.
Once children complete the SEAL series, they progress to the Marlin series and on to the more advanced Orca series of competencies. There are five levels in each series and a total of 15 levels in all. This ensures that the child progresses at a steady measured and controlled level.
The priority is two-tiered – safety and fun. The child has fun being guided safely; the confidence instilled in the swimmer assures the parent or guardian and reduces the dropout rate of participants.
Exclusive benefits and support
You will have the ongoing support of the awarding organisation, Water Safety Ireland, a statutory body.
Your centre will be listed online on the official website, www.iws.ie as an Water Safety Ireland Swim Centre.
Online with a helpline – and a person on the other side!
LoCall 1890-420.202 / [email protected]
Maximise class income – great discounts on certificates
Continuous Assessment Sheets for Water Safety Ireland’s National Swimming Programme
SEAL 1, SEAL 2, SEAL 3, SEAL 4, SEAL 5
MARLIN 6, MARLIN 7, MARLIN 8, MARLIN 9, MARLIN 10
ORCA 11, ORCA 12, ORCA 13, ORCA 14, ORCA 15
Please address your queries to: Water Safety Ireland, The Long Walk, Galway. 091-564400, 1890-420.202. [email protected]
Resources
Posters
- 6 Steps to Pool Safety
- 14 Steps to Safe & Enjoyable Boating as Gaeilge
- 14 Steps to Safe & Enjoyable Swimming as Gaeilge
- 14 Steps to Safe & Enjoyable Swimming
- Dopper – Pool Safety
- Hypothermia Poster
- WSI Range of Awards
- WSI Wise Up Poster
- Stay Safe on the Surf Poster
- Stolen Ringbuoy Stolen Life
- Surfail Slan Sabhailte
FAQs
Information about teaching Aquatics in primary and second-level schools in Ireland. Aquatics is now a strand of the Physical Education programme in all schools. Water Safety Ireland is working to provide resources and training for teachers involved in delivering the Aquatics curriculum.