Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

This professional diploma gives you the essential knowledge to work in prevention, rescue and assistance in aquatic environments. You will study rescue swimming techniques, lifesaving equipment, rescue in open water and white water, first aid and basic life support with an AED, the management of complex emergencies and the rules and preparation of lifesaving competitions, together with the psychological, legal and ethical aspects of rescue and victim care.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
Program diagnosis

Prior knowledge check

These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.

Your diagnosis
6of 6 to cover

You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.

About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies?

This professional diploma prepares you to prevent incidents and act effectively when someone is in danger in the water, in both sporting and professional contexts. You will learn the history, legal framework and ethics of lifesaving, how rescue swimming, approach, escapes from grips and victim towing are performed, how rescue tubes, cans, fins, manikins, rescue boards and personal watercraft are used and maintained, how to read rip currents, waves and tides on beaches, rivers and reservoirs, how to assess a victim and apply basic life support, airway management, AED use and oxygen therapy, how to manage spinal injuries, hypothermia and multiple-casualty incidents, and how lifesaving competitions, emergency plans and radio-coordinated operations are organized.

What sets this professional diploma apart: a dual approach that combines lifesaving as a sport with professional rescue; a complete view of natural environments, from surf and rip currents to white water and rocky shores; in-depth first aid content covering drowning, basic life support, the AED and oxygen therapy; a module dedicated to complex emergencies, spinal management and triage; specific preparation for pool and beach competition events under international rules; and attention to the psychology of rescue, both for the victim and for the lifesaver.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Dual approach: lifesaving as a competitive sport and as a professional rescue activity.
  • Natural environments: rip currents, surf, white water, reservoirs and rocky shores.
  • Life support: drowning, basic life support, AED use and oxygen therapy in aquatic settings.
  • Complex emergencies: spinal management, hypothermia, triage and multiple casualties.
  • Competition: pool and beach events, training planning and sports psychology.
  • Coordination: command structures, VHF radio, emergency plans and full-scale drills.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Foundations of sports and professional aquatic lifesaving

  • 1.1. History, evolution and philosophy of sports lifesaving
  • 1.2. Legal framework, regulations and international lifesaving standards
  • 1.3. Specific physical conditioning for lifesaving athletes
  • 1.4. Physiology of effort in water and hypoxia
  • 1.5. Risk prevention in natural aquatic environments and facilities
  • 1.6. Code of ethics, conduct and profile of the sports lifesaver
  • 1.7. Organizing lifesaving events and competitions
  • 1.8. Organization of beach lifesaving services
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Swimming techniques applied to lifesaving

  • 2.1. Adapting traditional swimming strokes to rescue
  • 2.2. Approach swimming and keeping sight of the victim
  • 2.3. Skill diving, functional breath-hold and surface dives
  • 2.4. Emergency water entries from different heights and surfaces
  • 2.5. Releases from grips, escapes and self-control when a victim panics
  • 2.6. Towing and carrying victims with and without equipment
  • 2.7. Efficient turns and transitions in competition events
  • 2.8. Towing and transporting victims over distance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Sports lifesaving equipment and materials

  • 3.1. Types of rescue equipment: rescue tube, rescue can, ring and buoy
  • 3.2. Use and handling of lifesaving fins
  • 3.3. Handling the lifesaving manikin in pool events
  • 3.4. Use and set-up of the rescue line in land-based events
  • 3.5. Introduction to the rescue board
  • 3.6. Light craft and personal watercraft in sports rescue
  • 3.7. Maintenance, inspection and care of technical equipment
  • 3.8. Rescue boats and rescue watercraft
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Rescue in natural environments (open water and white water)

  • 4.1. Basic oceanography: rip currents, waves and tides
  • 4.2. Reading and assessing bathing areas on beaches, rivers and reservoirs
  • 4.3. Strategies for entering, swimming and getting through the surf
  • 4.4. Rescue board techniques in open water
  • 4.5. Rescue procedures in white-water currents
  • 4.6. Searching for submerged victims in reduced visibility
  • 4.7. Evacuation and extraction protocols on rocky shores
  • 4.8. Rip currents and rescue in waves
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

First aid, basic life support and AED

  • 5.1. Initial assessment of the victim: primary and secondary survey
  • 5.2. Basic life support in adults, children and infants
  • 5.3. Airway management and rescue breathing in drowning
  • 5.4. Use of the automated external defibrillator in aquatic settings
  • 5.5. Pathophysiology of drowning: syndromes and stages
  • 5.6. Care of injuries, dislocations and bruising in the water
  • 5.7. Control of bleeding, shock and marine stings and bites
  • 5.8. Oxygen therapy in first aid
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Complex emergencies and advanced support

  • 6.1. Spinal management and stabilization in the water
  • 6.2. Use of the spinal board, cervical collar and in-water immobilisation devices
  • 6.3. Administering oxygen in aquatic emergencies
  • 6.4. Hypothermia, heat stroke and over-exertion emergencies
  • 6.5. Triage and prioritization of victims in multiple-casualty incidents
  • 6.6. Coordination with emergency medical services and emergency numbers
  • 6.7. Maintaining the advanced emergency first aid kit
  • 6.8. Immobilisation and transfer of victims
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Preparation for lifesaving competition events

  • 7.1. Pool lifesaving competition rules (ILS)
  • 7.2. Pool events: manikin carry, obstacle swim and combined events
  • 7.3. Beach and open-water lifesaving competition rules
  • 7.4. Beach events: beach flags, board race and relays
  • 7.5. Planning tactical training and managing training loads
  • 7.6. Nutrition, hydration and recovery strategies
  • 7.7. Sports psychology applied to performing under pressure
  • 7.8. Lifesaving competition regulations and judging
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Emergency management, coordination and crisis psychology

  • 8.1. Structure and command in lifesaving and civil protection operations
  • 8.2. VHF radio communication protocols and visual rescue signals
  • 8.3. Psychology of rescue: managing panic and stress in the victim
  • 8.4. Psychological support for the lifesaver and prevention of post-traumatic stress
  • 8.5. Drawing up emergency and self-protection plans for facilities
  • 8.6. Prevention logistics and deployment of safety cover
  • 8.7. Coordination protocols with emergency services
  • 8.8. Full-scale rescue drills and performance assessment
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

01Manage and coordinate aquatic rescue operations effectively, assessing risks, prioritizing resources and communicating with rescue teams and those affected.
02Assess and prevent risks in sporting and recreational aquatic environments, identifying hazards such as currents, changing depths and submerged obstacles.
03Apply life support and first aid techniques in aquatic emergencies, including CPR, bleeding control, immobilisation and safe transfer of victims.
04Develop advanced swimming and rescue skills for adverse conditions, such as rough water or low visibility, while prioritizing personal safety.
05Lead lifesaving and emergency response teams, setting priorities and deploying resources efficiently in aquatic crisis scenarios.
06Use specialized rescue and communication equipment safely, following maintenance and inspection protocols.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

01Lifeguard on beaches, pools and aquatic facilitiesprevention, surveillance and rescue (subject to the qualification required locally).
02Aquatic safety managerplanning and coordinating safety measures at aquatic facilities and events.
03Aquatic activities and lifesaving coachteaching and training in swimming and lifesaving disciplines.
04Member of rescue and civil protection teamssupport in search and rescue operations in different environments.
05Safety staff at water eventsprevention and surveillance at competitions, festivals and open-water activities.
06Lifesaving and first aid trainerrunning workshops and training sessions within organizations.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Sports Lifesaving and Emergencies

Aquatic emergencies and rescues in sporting and recreational settings: pools, beaches, rivers, reservoirs and water events, from prevention to victim care and coordination with emergency services.

Both. Alongside rescue techniques, you study victim assessment, basic life support, AED use, drowning, injuries, hypothermia and oxygen therapy.

No. Navalis Institute teaches the subject, but the official lifeguard qualification is issued by the competent authority or body in each country, usually after in-person practical tests.

Yes. A full module covers international pool and beach competition rules, the main events, training planning, nutrition and sports psychology.

Yes. You learn how to manage panic in the victim and how lifesavers can protect their own wellbeing and prevent post-traumatic stress.

Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.

The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

Related programs

More programs in Safety and survival

View the whole area →

Short course · 300 hSurvival at Sea Course$490 · View program →Professional diploma · 800 hProfessional Diploma in Marine Fire Prevention$1,110 · View program →Short course · 300 hOperational Safety Protocols Course$460 · View program →
Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at sports professionals, coaches and instructors, aquatic and land lifeguards who want to update their knowledge, students of sport and health-related studies, members of rescue and civil protection teams, and health professionals who attend emergencies at sporting events. A lifesaving qualification or demonstrable experience in aquatic activities or emergencies is recommended, together with a good level of swimming and physical fitness.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser and a camera for live sessions and practical case presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $456 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

Any questions?

Ask us before you enroll

Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.

Enroll now

Consent
Scroll to Top