As we step into 2025, the call to action for water safety educators has never been clearer. Every year, New Zealand faces a tragic reality: the majority of drownings occur in open water environments. Rivers, lakes, and the ocean—beautiful and inviting—can turn treacherous in an instant. As an industry and as individuals, we have a unique opportunity to reverse this trend. By equipping our students with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to survive in open water, we can be a part of the solution.
But it’s time to go beyond talking about being the solution. It’s time to act.
The Challenge of Open Water
Unlike swimming pools, open water environments are unpredictable. Currents, waves, cold water, and hidden hazards make them inherently dangerous. Many drowning incidents occur because individuals are unprepared to handle these challenges.
The good news? Survival isn’t about being the strongest swimmer—it’s about having the right skills and mindset to respond when things go wrong. That’s where we come in.
Teaching Age-Appropriate Competencies
Teaching open water survival isn’t one-size-fits-all. To make an impact, we need to tailor our lessons to suit the developmental stage of our students:
Young Learners: Start with foundational skills like floating, staying calm, and signalling for help. Use storytelling and games to keep it engaging.
Older Students: Introduce advanced competencies like sculling, treading water, and performing safe rescues. Challenge them with clothed practice and moving water scenarios.
By focusing on age-appropriate skills, we prepare students to handle situations they’re most likely to face, giving them the best chance of survival.
Simulating Open Water Conditions
To truly prepare students, we need to go beyond the pool. Simulated open water opportunities bridge the gap between controlled environments and real-life challenges.
Practise clothed floating and signalling to mimic how they’ll feel in a real emergency.
Teach sculling and treading water in conditions that simulate currents or waves.
Introduce rescue scenarios where students can practise using throw bags or other safe techniques.
These experiences build confidence and resilience, helping students respond calmly and effectively when faced with the unexpected.
Take Action: Be the Solution
It’s not enough to say, “We’re part of the solution.” We need to show it.
Plan lessons that prioritise open water skills: Are you teaching competencies that directly prepare students for rivers, lakes, or the ocean?
Incorporate storytelling and scenarios: Make your lessons memorable by connecting skills to real-life situations.
Commit to realistic practice: Clothed survival, moving water, and rescue techniques should become standard parts of your teaching plan.
Each step you take makes a difference. Every student you equip with these life-saving tools becomes a stronger swimmer, a better decision-maker, and—most importantly—a survivor
The Bigger Picture
New Zealand’s drowning statistics are more than just numbers—they represent lives lost, families devastated, and communities affected. Together, we can change this. By teaching open water survival skills with purpose and urgency, we’re not just reducing drowning rates; we’re creating a culture of safety, awareness, and preparedness.
So let’s stop talking about being the solution. Let’s show it.
💡 Challenge for 2025: How can you incorporate age-appropriate open water survival skills into your teaching next week? What can you do differently to prepare your students for the unexpected?
The water can be unpredictable, but our commitment to saving lives doesn’t have to be.