STA Level 2 Open Water Swimming Coaching
Aviemore (Highlands) • Blended or in-person • Tutor-assessed • Small groups
Course at a glance:
Duration
3 days total
Fully in-person or blended
Delivery options
In-person:
3 days in Aviemore
Blended:
2 online (live) & 1 practical day in Aviemore
Location
Aviemore, Scottish Highlands
Practical coaching is delivered in-person in Aviemore for both formats.
Assessment & qualification
STA Level 2 qualification
Tutor-assessed (theory & practical).
Bookable dates & prices:
Aviemore dates, venue and prices - Prerequisites apply for these course and must be confirmed before Day 1 (see prerequisites above)
Course information:
This qualification is for people who love open water and want to coach swimmers safely and professionally in an open water environment.
Typical attendees include:
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Level 2 swim teachers / coaches moving into open water delivery
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Swim club / triathlon club coaches looking to support or coach open water sessions
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Outdoor / fitness professionals expanding into coached open water swimming
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Club / squad coaches supporting swimmers from “first open water session” through to event preparation
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Providers / venues / event staff who are building consistent and competent open water coaching delivery
This course is not designed for:
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People looking for a personal “confidence in open water” course (this is a coaching qualification)
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Non-swimmers / anyone not comfortable in deep water
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People wanting lifeguarding or rescue training (different qualification pathway)
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Recreational dippers without regular open water experience
STA’s intent is preparing learners to plan, coach, and evaluate open water sessions.
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To attend this course you must meet the prerequisites below. Eligibility must be confirmed before Day 1.
You must be aged 18 or over on the first day of the course.
You must already hold an eligible Level 2 qualification
You must have ONE of the following:-
Level 2 Swimming Teaching or Coaching qualification, OR
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Level 2 Triathlon qualification
If you do not hold one of the above, you must complete the STA pre-course upskill course.
Open water swimming experience evidence (required)
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You must provide evidence confirming you are an open water swimmer (not just occasional dipping).
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Evidence can be:
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A short CV-style summary of your open water swimming (where/when/how often, typical distances, events), or
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A witness statement confirming your open water swimming experience (with dates/locations and typical distances), plus any event history if relevant.
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Important note about certification
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All prerequisites must be in place before the course starts. Certificates cannot be issued if prerequisites aren’t met before Day 1. Post-course submissions are not accepted.
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You will be to plan, deliver and evaluate open water swimming coaching sessions in environments where you have appropriate competence and experience.
By the end of the course you should be able to:
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Plan structured open water sessions with clear aims and safe control measures
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Coach technique and confidence progressively (from first open water sessions through to event preparation)
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Brief swimmers effectively and manage groups in dynamic outdoor conditions
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Review and evaluate sessions to improve coaching outcomes over time
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This is a practical, interactive course that prepares you for all aspects of open water swimming coaching - planning, coaching delivery, and evaluation - through a mix of short classroom blocks, group discussion, and coached open water delivery.
Expect:
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Short theory blocks and guided discussion
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Group planning and scenario work
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Practical coaching (including coaching peers and being coached)
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Practise structured session planning, briefing, and on-water management
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Session debriefs focused on what worked, what didn’t, and why
Delivery options:
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In-person: 3 days in Aviemore
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Blended: 2 live online days + 1 in-person practical day in Aviemore
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Assessment is tutor-led and designed to confirm you can plan, deliver and evaluate safe, structured open water coaching sessions.
Assessment includes:
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Tutor-assessed theory
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Tutor-assessed practical coaching sessions
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Multiple choice question paper (closed-book exam style)
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Short written portfolio including:
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Session plans
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Session evaluations
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Risk assessment
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Certification is awarded on successful completion of all course requirements.
Resits:
If you don’t meet the required standard in any element (including the MCQ pass mark), you can resit the required element(s) once only. Resits must be completed within 6 weeks of the course end date. Additional fees apply depending on what you need to resit (for example, MCQ only vs practical reassessment); resit fees are confirmed at the point of booking.-
This course is practical and coach-focused. There isn’t a single “compulsory kit list” because part of your role as a coach is adapting sessions to the kit swimmers actually have, the conditions on the day, and the venue setup.
Bring what you can from the list below. If you’re missing something, still attend - we’ll work with what’s available.
Theory / classroom
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Pens / pencils (a couple of colours helps)
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Blank paper
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Tablet / laptop (optional)
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Clipboard or something firm to write on
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Refreshments / snacks
In-water activities
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Swimming costume / trunks (spares if you have them)
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Wetsuit (if you use one)
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Swim cap
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Goggles
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Footwear suitable for in-water work
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Towel(s)
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Flip flops / crocs
Dry land / site activity
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Waterproofs
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Appropriate footwear for site visits (some sites are rocky / uneven)
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Warm layers (especially after in-water activities)
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Hat, gloves, scarf
Full kit list PDF
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After qualifying, your next step is experience: plan, deliver and review sessions regularly to build real-world judgement in different conditions and with different swimmer needs.
Common next steps include:
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Build a simple session library: session plans, briefings, and adaptations for different conditions and swimmer ability
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Log reflective evaluations after sessions to improve consistency and decision-making
Regulated qualification options
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Open Water Safety (STA Level 2) - a strong next step if you’re supervising sessions or working in operational open water settings
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Swimming Teaching / Coaching qualifications - if you don’t already hold a swim teaching/coaching award, this is the natural progression for broader delivery and employability
To strengthen your delivery further, consider CPD in open water safety/supervision, risk assessment and operating procedures, and human factors/incident prevention.
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The course in action:
Frequently asked questions
Aviemore dates and venue delivery
Training policies & terms
Booking a place confirms you’ve read and accepted our training terms (payment, cancellations/transfers, safety decisions, conduct and data).