Every Saturday afternoon, the Strand Municipal Swimming Pool transforms into a classroom that teaches children – and adults – how to swim and be water safe.
Since October last year, the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has been offering free Survival Swimming lessons, led by local architect and NSRI volunteer Mieke Herbst.
While many see swimming as a luxury or a competitive sport, Mieke and her team of volunteers – ranging from salespeople and students to professional lifeguards – view it as a fundamental right.
Mieke’s journey to the Strand pool deck wasn’t a straight line. An architect by trade with a lifelong passion for the sea, she grew up sailing and swimming. However, it was an NSRI talk that changed her perspective.
“I realised just how lucky I was to have learned to swim at such a young age,” Mieke says. “I wanted to help make that same confidence and safety accessible to everyone in our community.”
After a stint with the Gordon’s Bay NSRI crew, Mieke jumped at the chance to coordinate the “pop-up” Survival Swimming location in Strand. “When the opportunity came to set-up at the municipal pool, the rest was history,” she recalls.
There is a common misconception that survival swimming is the same as learning the butterfly stroke or training for a gala. But the NSRI programme focuses on four specific, high-impact skills designed to help a person survive an unexpected fall into deep water.
The core skills include:
– breath control: learning how to manage breathing under pressure;
– orientation: opening eyes under water to find safety;
– the float: conserving energy by staying buoyant; and
– movement: moving safely through the water for at least five metres.
“Swimming is a life skill that everyone should have,” says Mieke. “These lessons are about surviving an unexpected submersion. We teach people how to stay calm and get to safety.”
The programme is entirely volunteer-based and free of charge, supported by donors and the NSRI’s famous fundraising initiatives, such as the 2026 Jimny Car Competition and the Monthly Draw.
The Strand Municipal Swimming Pool was chosen for its accessibility to a diverse cross-section of locals. While the programme is open to anyone over the age of five, the team sees a wide variety of students.
If someone wants to learn how to swim, we will teach them,” Mieke notes. “While we mostly see children between six and 15, we’ve heard of students as old as 83. It’s never too late to learn to float.
As the seasons change, the team faces a practical hurdle: the heating system at the Strand pool is currently non-functional.
“We will take it as it comes,” Mieke admits regarding the winter months. “As it cools down, interest usually drops, but if there are people wanting to learn, we will be there.”
The NSRI is always looking for more volunteers to join its ranks. Whether you are a professional swimmer or just someone who wants to give back, training is provided.
The lessons take place on Saturdays from 12:00 to 14:00 at the Strand municipal pool and there is no cost. Send an email to survivalswimming@searescue.org.za.
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