ASI establishes the global benchmark for advanced surf instruction and activities.
ASI Advanced Surfing Instructor Standards recommend safe operational limits, mandatory equipment, instructor qualifications, and risk management guidelines required for coaching surfers in advanced level surfing environments and waves up to 6 feet.
Below are key operational standards for conducting safe, high-quality advanced surf lessons and coaching sessions.
Approved Location Conditions
Advanced surfing activities involve high-performance surf environments and complex ocean dynamics. Approved locations must meet the following criteria:
- Break Types: Beach breaks, reef breaks, river mouth breaks, point breaks, or bomboras.
- Wave Height & Type: Open-face peeling waves peaking left or right, ranging from 3 feet (1 metre) up to 6 feet (3 metres).
- Currents & Winds: Rip currents present (suitable for wave negotiation), with wind speeds under 35 km/h (approx. 20 mph).
- Environmental Safety: Operational areas must be thoroughly assessed and free from hazards, including dangerous marine life and water pollution.
Equipment
- Surfboards: High-performance fiberglass surfboards suitable for advanced manoeuvres and larger surf.
- Leashes: Suitable leashes securely attached to all boards at all times.
- Protective Gear: Reef booties required when surfing over reef breaks.
- Accessories: Surfboard wax suited to local water temperatures.
Instructor Qualification Requirements
To lead sessions in advanced surf environments, instructors must hold active, valid credentials:
- Instructor Certification: ASI Level 3 Surfing Coach / Instructor.
- Water Safety: Current Surf Rescue qualification.
- First Aid: Current Senior First Aid certification.
- Background Check: Official Working with Children Check (as applicable to the region).
Student Entry Requirements
- Minimum Age: No minimum age requirement (subject to individual risk management assessments).
- Swimming Ability: Must be able to swim 200 metres continuously and able to swim from the surf break back to shore.
Student Management & Supervision Ratios
Instructor-to-Student Ratio: Maximum 1:8 ratio (1 fully accredited coach per 8 students). For more experienced students, ratios may be adjusted based on participant ability, ocean conditions, and risk assessment.
Standard Group Density: Maximum 16 students in one water zone at a time. Larger groups must separate along the beach with a minimum buffer distance of 50 metres (165 ft) between groups.
High-Traffic Water Conditions: Maximum 8 students per water zone, maintaining at least 50 metres (165 ft) of distance from other surf groups.
Water Safety & Risk Management
- Leash Protocol: Students must wear an attached surfboard leash at all times in the water.
- Continuous Monitoring: Coaches must actively monitor all students at all times, positioned either in the water or from the shore depending on session goals and conditions.
- Crowd Mitigation: For less experienced advanced students, coaches must avoid high-density surf breaks to minimise safety risks to participants and other water users.
Operational Safety & Risk Management
The ASI Surfing Instructor Standards provide international benchmark guidelines for safe surf instruction. Instructors must conduct a comprehensive, real-time risk assessment before and during every session—evaluating student physical ability, ocean conditions, and potential environmental hazards. Standards, group sizes, or ratios must be adjusted, scaled down, or activity cancelled accordingly to prioritise safety.
