Personal Survival Skills

In response to many requests the Personal Survival Series has been reintroduced, with a few minor amendments, as the Seal Series. This stand-alone series should only be undertaken by competent swimmers and it is recommended that only candidates who have completed the Shark Series undertake the Seal Series. The awards should be taken in the correct order; all skills within an award must be taken continuously and the candidates must not gain any support from objects other than those specified.

Discarded clothing must not be allowed to become a hazard to any other swimmer and should be removed from the pool as quickly as possible. In order to achieve a pass in these awards, all sections must be completed in a competent, efficient manner.

Assessors are reminded that the times for the distance swims are maximum times. All other timed sections are minimum times.

Click here to download the Supporting Awards Assessment Standards.

Seal 1

Demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Perform a straddle entry from the poolside.
  2. Swim 50 metres.
  3. Tread Water for 3 minutes.
  4. Swim 100 metres.
  5. Find a floatable object in deep water and adopt the H.E.L.P. position for 2 minutes.
  6. Climb out of the pool from deep water without assistance.

This award must be performed in deep water whilst wearing the following clothing: short-sleeved fully buttoned shirt or blouse, long loose fitting trousers (not jeans).

 Otter 1 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Seal 2

Demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Perform a straddle entry from the poolside.
  2. Swim 100 metres in less than 4 minutes.
  3. Perform a feet first surface dive.
  4. Tread water for 1 minute waving one arm above the water to attract attention.
  5. Tread water for 3 minutes.
  6. Swim 200 metres stop and rest for 2 minutes by either floating or treading water then swim a further 200 metres.
  7. Climb out of pool from deep water without assistance.

This award must be performed in deep water whilst wearing the following clothing: long-sleeved fully buttoned shirt or blouse, long loose fitting trousers (not jeans).

 Otter 2 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Seal 3

Demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Perform a straddle entry from the poolside.
  2. Swim 100 metres in less than 4 minutes.
  3. Tread water for 2 minutes.
  4. Tread water for 2 minutes waving one arm above the water to attract attention.
  5. Remove jumper or sweatshirt.
  6. Swim 800 metres in less than 30 minutes; during the swim perform a feet first surface dive and a head first surface dive.
  7. Climb out of the pool from the deep end without assistance.

This award must be performed in deep water whilst wearing the following clothing: long-sleeved fully buttoned shirt or blouse, long sleeved jumper or sweatshirt, long loose fitting trousers (not jeans).

 Otter 3 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf
 
Seal 4

Demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Perform a straddle entry from the poolside.
  2. Swim 100 metres in less than 21/2 minutes.
  3. Remove footwear and tread water for 2 minutes; simulating cramp in one leg, massage the affected leg with a free hand.
  4. Tread water for 5 minutes.
  5. Swim 500 metres in less than 15 minutes.
  6. Tread water for 2 minutes waving one arm above the water to attract attention.
  7. Find a floating object and then remove an article of clothing.
  8. Swim with the floating object for 100 metres, resting twice in the H.E.L.P. position for 2 minutes each time.
  9. Climb out of the pool in deep water without assistance.

This award must be performed in deep water whilst wearing the following clothing: t-shirt or vest, long-sleeved fully buttoned shirt or blouse, long sleeved jumper or sweatshirt, long loose fitting trousers (not jeans), socks and plimsolls or suitable alternative footwear.

 Otter 4 Badge
Download Tick Sheet
as pdf