ASI establishes the global benchmark for beginner surf instruction and activities.
ASI Beginner Surfing Instructor Standards recommend safe operational limits, mandatory equipment, instructor qualifications, and risk management guidelines required for conducting introductory surf lessons in white water and waves under 1.5 feet.
Below are key operational standards for conducting safe, high-quality introductory surf lessons and coaching sessions.
Approved Location Conditions
Beginner surfing activities must take place in controlled, low-risk aquatic environments. Approved locations require:
- Wave Height: Gentle, breaking white water or peeling waves under 1.5 feet (0.5 metres).
- Seabed & Gradient: Sandy beach with an even, gradual slope (no rocks or reef).
- Water Depth: Standing chest-deep.
- Currents & Waves: Zero rocks, zero rip currents, minimal lateral drift, and no dumping shore break.
- Wind Speed: Winds under 20 km/h (approx. 12 mph).
Equipment
- Surfboards: Beginner soft-top surfboards equipped with soft flexible fins to prevent impact injuries.
- Leashes: Suitable, long leashes securely attached to every board.
Instructor Qualification Requirements
Every instructor leading a beginner lesson must hold active credentials:
- Instructor Certification: ASI Level 1 Surfing 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 country).
Student Entry Requirements
- Minimum Age: No minimum age requirement (subject to individual risk management assessments).
- Swimming Ability: Must be able to swim 50 metres (165 ft) continuously and tread water unassisted for at least 5 minutes.
Student Management & Supervision Ratios
Maximum Instructor Ratio: Maximum 1:8 ratio (1 fully accredited instructor per 8 students).
Standard Group Density: Maximum 16 students in one water zone at a time. Groups larger than 16 must separate along the beach with a minimum buffer distance of 50 metres (165 ft) between each group.
High-Traffic Water Conditions: Maximum 8 students per water zone, maintaining a minimum distance of 50 metres (165 ft) from other surfing groups.
Water Safety & Risk Management
- Leash Protocol: Students must wear their surfboard leash at all times while in the water.
- Instructor Positioning: Instructors must remain in the water, close to students throughout the session.
- Crowd Mitigation: Instructors must avoid high-density surf zones to minimise collision risks associated with larger beginner soft boards.
- Hazard Assessment: The operational area must be free from other water hazards prior to and during the session.
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.
