SwimSafer 2.0 Programme
We teach our lessons according to the SwimSafer 2.0 programme, which aims to impart swimming proficiency and water survival skills to children. There are six stages within SwimSafer, From Stage 1, 2, 3, Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
Wave Makers Swim School conducts our swim tests bi-annually. Practical tests will be conducted at ActiveSG Public Swimming Pools. After successful completion of the Practical tests, students are required to complete an online Theory test to complete and receive their Stage certificates.
Information about the 6 Stages below is taken from https://swimsafer.com.sg/.
Swimsafer 2.0 Theory Test Portal

Stage 1
Entries & Exits
- Slide-in entry.
- Exit using ladder and from pool edge.
Sculling & Body Orientation
- Front float (mushroom or jellyfish), 5 sec, recover to standing position.
- Back float, 5 sec, recover to a standing position.
Underwater Skills
Submerge in waist deep (student’s) water, open eyes and blow bubbles.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
- Movement on front 10m. (alternating arms & legs and/or simultaneous arms and legs)
- Movement on back 5m. (alternating arms & legs and/or simultaneous arms and legs)
Survival & Activity Skills
- Signal distress.
- Grasp a flotation aid and float for 10 sec.
- Move to the pool’s edge (with the float).
- Exit safely from water.
Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:
Correctly fit a PFD, jump into the water, float for 30 seconds and then climb out of deep water.
Stage 2
Entries & Exits
Step-in entry.
Sculling & Body Orientation
- Front float (mushroom or jellyfish), 10 sec.
- Swim 5m on front, rollover.
- Back float, 10 sec.
- Swim 5m on back.
- Scull, float or tread for 30 sec (incorporated in Survival & Activity Skills).
Underwater Skills
Search for and recover an object in chest deep (student’s) water.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
- Movement on front 25m (alternating arms & legs and/or simultaneous arms and legs).
- Movement on back 15m (alternating arms & legs and/or simultaneous arms and legs).
Survival & Activity Skills
Scull, float or tread for 30 sec.
Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:
- Swim 15m using any survival stroke.
- Swim to pool edge and climb out.
- Put on an appropriately sized PFD and jump into the water (at least 1.4m deep)
- Swim 25m with PFD, then climb out of the water.
Stage 3
Entries & Exits
Stride / straddle entry.
Sculling & Body Orientation
- Scull headfirst on back, 5m.
- Scull, float or tread for 50 secs (incorporated in Survival & Activity Skills).
Underwater Skills
Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 2m.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
Swim 50m continuously:
- 25m front crawl, and 25m backstroke.
- Swim 25m Breaststroke and 25m Survival Backstroke.
Survival & Activity Skills
Scull, float or tread water for 50 sec.
Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:
- Swim 25m using survival backstroke or survival breaststroke to a PFD.
- Correctly fit a PFD in water, swim 50m with PFD, then climb out of the water.
Stage 4 – Bronze
Entries & Exits
Compact jump.
Sculling & Body Orientation
- Forward somersault in the water.
- Scull, float or tread for 2 min
Underwater Skills
In at least 1.4m deep water, perform feet-first surface dive, swim through hoops on pool bottom or 2m.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
Swim 100m continuously:
- 25m Front Crawl.
- 25m Backstroke.
- 25m Breaststroke.
- 25m Survival Backstroke.
Survival & Activity Skills
Scull, float or tread water for 2 min.
Dressed in swimwear, shorts and t-shirt demonstrate:
- 3 min swimming slowly using survival backstroke, sidestroke and survival breaststroke, changing every 15m.
- Wave and call for help Retrieve a flotation aid thrown by a ‘rescuer’ (2m away) and kick to the side of the pool and exit.
Rescue Skills
Throw a flotation aid to a partner 2m away and instruct the partner to kick to the edge.
Stage 5 – Silver
Entries & Exits
Dive entry (crouching).
Sculling & Body Orientation
- Backward somersault in the water.
- Scull, float or tread whilst putting on a PFD in water.
Underwater Skills
In at least 1.4m deep water, perform feet-first surface dive, swim through hoops on pool bottom for 3m.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
- 50m Front Crawl (within 1:30 min).
- 50m Breaststroke(within 1:50 min).
- 50m Backstroke (within 1:40 min).
- 25m Survival Backstroke.
- 25m Sidestroke.
- Dolphin kick 10m on front.
Survival & Activity Skills
Dressed in swimwear, long pants* and t-shirt demonstrate:
- Enter deep water using a straddle jump.
- Perform a backward somersault.
- Submerge using feet first surface dive.
- Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 3m and resurface.
- Swim 45m quickly using front crawl.
- Wave and call for help (rescuer to throw PFD).
- Retrieve a PFD in water and fit it while treading water.
- Demonstrate Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique for 30 sec.
- Then swim 25m with PFD and climb out of the water.
Rescue Skills
Throw a PFD to a partner 3m away and instruct the partner to kick to the edge.
Stage 6 – Gold
Entries & Exits
Standing dive.
Sculling & Body Orientation
Scull, float or tread for whilst making a self-made float within 5 min
Underwater Skills
In at least 1.8m deep water, perform head-first surface dive (tuck or pike) and perform ear
equalisation, if necessary and swim through hoops on pool bottom for 5m.
Movement / Swimming / Strokes
Swim:
- 100m Front Crawl (within 3:00 min).
- 100m Breaststroke (within 4:00 min).
- 100 m Backstroke (within 3:20 min).
- 50m Survival Backstroke.
- 50m Sidestroke.
- 15m Butterfly.
Survival & Activity Skills
Dressed in swimwear, long pants* and t-shirt demonstrate:
- Enter deep water using a compact jump.
- Perform a headfirst surface dive to a depth of at least 1.8m (and perform ear equalisation, if necessary).
- Swim through hoops on pool bottom for 5m and resurface.
- Swim 45m quickly using front crawl.
- Then, swim slowly for a further 50m using any preferred survival swim stroke.
- Remove pants in deep water and make a float with it while treading water within 5 min.
- Demonstrate Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) technique with the self-made float for 1 min.
- Then swim 25m with the self-made float and climb out of the water.