Lesson 11 – 30 minutes
Learning outcomes
- Attempt or perform diving under waves.
Preparation
- Water Safety Personnel (1:5).
IMPORTANT
- If you are not confident coaching the skills in this lesson, bring in a surf sports athlete or coach to help deliver the lesson.
- Discuss the surf conditions and safety considerations before entering the water.
Discuss
- Recall the swimming techniques for negotiating surf (surf swimming techniques).
Coaching Points
DIVING UNDER WAVES
- Dive deep under waves.
- If you can reach the bottom, grab hold of sand with hands.
- In deep water, do not use extra energy trying to reach the bottom, instead duck dive to just below the turbulence.
- Wait for the wave to pass and then push or kick to the surface (off the bottom if possible).
- When you reach the surface, check ahead to locate the next wave and continue swimming out to sea.
Activity 1
- You don’t need large surf to practice this skill.
- Organise participants into small groups of about 10.
- Have the participants move out to waist deep water under the supervision of water safety personnel.
- On your instruction they can practice diving parallel to the beach for 15m – the focus should be on grabbing hold of the sand with their hands and kicking off the bottom.
- Repeat this activity until all groups have the hang of it.
Activity 2
- Organise participants into small groups of about 10.
- Ensure the water safety personnel are placed throughout the surf.
- Send groups to swim out past the surf zone practicing their diving under waves.
- When they get out the back they can rest and return to shore.
- Mix this activity up by organising teams and conducting relays (other surf swimming skills will also come into play).
ASSUMED SKILLS
This lesson assumes participants have acquired previous skills from earlier awards:
- Wading and dolphin-diving • Body surfing • Surf swimming techniques.
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