RYA / MCA Basic Sea Survival

The RYA one day Sea Survival course is a genuine lifesaver. Designed for small craft users, the course provides an understanding of how to use the safety equipment found on small vessels. Including, life rafts, the equipment they contain and survival techniques form the central part of the course. Other topics covered include the design of lifejackets, medical aspects of sea survival and search and rescue techniques. The RYA Small Craft Sea Survival course is a must for anyone who wants to go to sea.

There is a practical session in the pool where students are encouraged to gain first-hand experience of the problems of entering and assisting the entrance of others into an inflated and uncooperative life raft whilst fully kitted out. You will find out just how tricky it can be to get into a life raft!

The RYA Sea Survival Handbook - G43 is included in the cost of your course and this will be provided on arrival for your course.

The course is hands-on and can be fairly strenuous. If you have any concerns about fitness or health issues, please contact our administration for advice.

What’s included?

• Theory session at the sea school classroom
• Practical session in a swimming pool
• RYA Sea Survival book
• All safety gear, including lifejackets, life rafts etc.
• Tea and coffee
• Parking
• Certificate upon successful completion 

Maximum teaching ratio - 12:1 

Course language - English

One day course at East Anglian Sea School

RYA Sea Survival Certificate

Preparation for sea survival 

Survival difficulties 

Survival requirements 

Equipment available

Actions prior to abandonment 

Lifejackets and liferafts 

Lifejacket design and construction, correct donning procedure, purpose and use of lifejackets 

Safety harnesses - purpose and use 

Liferafts - stowage and containment on boardtypes, design and construction launching abandoning the vessel and boarding liferaft righting a capsized liferaft equipmentinitial actions to be taken in a liferaft 

Principles of survival 

Methods to increase chances of survival 

Signs, symptoms and treatment of hypothermia 

Symptoms, method of treatment for sunburn, heat exhaustion and heatstroke 

Survival routines to aid location 

Correct use of pyrotechnics and other location aids 

Water rationing – procedures Dehydration and preventative measures 

Food rationing Sources of food 

Survival craft ailments 

Raft management 

Search and rescue 

Rescue by helicopter or vessel 

Role of HM Coastguard 

UK and International SAR Organisation 

Other services