International Surf Lifesaving Association

06/07/2026

When seconds matter, lifeguards are often the first on scene.

From water rescues and medical emergencies to disaster response, open water lifeguards serve in a first responder role every day yet many are still not formally recognized as First Responders. The movement to change that is gaining momentum.

Learn why this issue matters and how you can help support California Lifeguards:

👉 https://www.islasurf.org/lifeguards-as-first-responders/

Learn why recognizing lifeguards as first responders matters and discover four ways you can support this important public safety initiative.

05/16/2026

Happy International Water Safety Day from the ISLA team! Whether you’re paddling out for a surf or just cooling off wading in the shallows, drowning is preventable when we share the right knowledge. 🤙

Education saves lives, and the best day at the beach is a safe day at the beach! Let’s make preventable drowning a thing of the past. Always swim near an open lifeguard tower, swim with a buddy, and know your limits!

Visit islasurf.org to see how we’re training lifesavers globally, share this post to spread the word, and join our team of international lifeguards! 🌎🌊🛟

04/21/2026

ACADEMY DAY 3! On Day 3, our cadets completed their Open Water Lifeguard Academy. They began the day with their last few lectures, and quickly moved over to the beach. On the beach, cadets did their last bit of squad work and everyone practiced for their final exams. Final practicals were done after lunch, and then we moved to BEACH FLAGS! Always a hit, beach flags brings out the competitive side of our cadets and is an absolutely epic way to end the academy. Those in the Academy walked on to Playa Ballenita as cadets, and walked off it at the end of the day as Lifeguards and Safeguards!

Congratulations and a huge thank you to all who completed training! ISLA is forever grateful to our Lifeguards and Safeguards that leave our training and continue on to make a huge and awesome difference in their communities.

Stay tuned for an inside look at what our Guards' graduation ceremony looked like, coming soon! Lifeguards for life! 🛟🛟

04/20/2026

Happy Birthday to Marine Safety Captain Jonathan Robinson 🌊

19 operations. Over 11 countries. Countless lives impacted.

From Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Peru to India, Ghana, and Indonesia—Jonathan continues to show what it means to be a true ISLA Operator.

Safety third. Winning & making a difference first.

Have an epic birthday, Captain 🤙

04/19/2026

Happy World Heritage Day from the International Surf Lifesaving Association! World Heritage Day is basically a global high-five for the epic landmarks and natural spots that tell the story of our planet. As volunteer lifeguards, we’re out here stoked to protect the historic coastlines and cultural treasures that make this world such a legendary place to explore. Let’s keep these iconic spots pristine and respected so the next generation of chargers can enjoy the same views we do! 🤙

04/14/2026

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA : Tornado Rip from above …

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

ACADEMY DAY 2! Cadets absolutely crushed it on Day 2 of the Academy, both in the classroom and in the water for Operation Ecuador 2026!

During the lecture part of Day 2, our instructors taught cadets about CPR, as well as trauma and medical emergencies. Some of these topics were practiced later on the beach, in addition to other skills, such as Code X/missing swimmer, paddleboard rescues, and fine-tuning how to rescue a victim in the surf. The day ended with another epic group workout and sunset.

Our cadets pushed through the most difficult day of Academy, once again showing up in full force. Squads became just near perfect, leadership amongst the ranks shone bright, and the true "lifeguards for life" mentality was out there! The lifeguard family came together fully during Day 2, and it was an epic sight to see.

Stay tuned for the update on Academy Day 3, coming shortly! A huge congrats again to all our newly graduated lifeguards from Operation Ecuador 2026! Get out there and save lives! 🤙

04/05/2026

ACADEMY DAY 1! Cadets and instructors alike hit the ground running for Day 1 of ISLA's Basic Open Water Lifeguard Academy for Operation Ecuador 2026! We began the morning with a session in the classroom and ended with an epic day on the beach.

During the classroom portion of the day, cadets learned about ISLA operations, what a Lifeguard/Safeguard is, the ocean environment and hazards, lifeguard communications, and how to identify a victim and how to respond. On the beach, after the initial swim, cadets were introduced to squad work and how to rescue a victim both with and without equipment. Instructors and cadets finished the day with an epic sunset workout as a group, again concluding the day with an awesome sunset.

With over 110 cadets, each member of the team worked super hard to ensure each and every student excelled at the material from Day 1. Our cadets SHOWED UP and displayed their skills, determination, teamwork, camaraderie, and watermanship. It was a sweet first day of the Academy! Come back tomorrow to check in on what we had in store for our cadets on Day 2! 🤙🤙