Deck Courses
What Courses Do You Need?
If you’re new to yachting, the legal minimum requirement is the STCW 2010 basic training. While, in theory, any additional courses are a bonus, in practice, a saturated job market has led to widespread ‘qualification inflation.’ This means that if other candidates have more qualifications than you, you might not get a second look. Therefore, we recommend starting with the Classic Package. (Check out our packages to see the course bundles we offer.)
Additionally, we encourage anyone serious about a yachting career to develop skills beyond the scope of our courses. For more information, check out our blog posts.
STCW 2010
The STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) is essential and compulsory for those working offshore or on board any yacht in the industry.
- Price: R8750(increases to R9500 in 2024)
- Duration: 11 days
- Marine Fire Fighting
- Personal Survival Techniques (PST)
- Personal Safety and Social Responsibility (PSSR)
- Proficiency in Dedicated Security Duties (PDSD)
- Elementary Maritime First Aid.
RYA Advanced Powerboat
This continues to build on the skills acquired from the Tender Operator’s Course, but now taking traditional navigation and combining it with new electronic navigation skills. Boat handling skills are taken to the highest possible levels and crew are taken through their paces with challenging alongside scenarios and long distance “no room for error’ passages along our formidable coast.
- Price: R6000
- Duration: 2 days
RYA PW Instructor (PWI)
It is difficult to find a more superyacht-specific qualification than the PW Instructors course. Here, the crew will deliver a swift, shortened course of basic instruction to guests on board, licensing them to legally operate jet skis in the Mediterranean, USA, Bahamas, Caribbean, etc.
- Price: R9950 (Excluding £25 (under 25 years) or £47 (over 25 years) payable to the RYA to become a member)
- Duration: 3 days
RYA Diesel Engine Course
The more we are able to multitask on board, even as an entry-level crew member, the more valuable we become to a vessel. This is suggested for new crew looking to follow the engineering route onboard.
- Price: R2000
- Duration: 1 day
RYA Day Skipper Theory
Advance your navigational theory and step towards your Yacht Master understanding, where you solidify your drive to become a valuable crew member on the bridge by taking on responsibility for the absolute safety of all the guests and crew. This is an intensive week for students, with 8 hours of instruction and practical training sessions per day. As a training centre, we have ensured that students will always have the weekend free after this course. This way, we have some extra days available If there is a need to rewrite exams or if students require some extra instruction time.
- Price: R8000
- Duration: 5 days
- Tidal heights and stream effect
- Course to steer and Dead Reckoning
- Electronic and traditional Nav
- Chart work for passage planning
- Watch keeping roles
- Collision regulations
- Buoyage, lights etc.
- Meteorology
RYA Personal Watercraft Course (PWC/Jet Ski)
This Personal Watercraft Course licenses you to operate jet-skis globally. It also forms part of the steppingstone license towards your PW Instructor license. We are often tasked as deck crew, to entertain the yacht owners and their kids/guests on the PW’s/jet-skis. A vital license to hold for your duties on board, as well as employment.
- Price: R3500
- Duration: 1 day
RYA Radar
Your duties as an assistant watchkeeper on the bridge mean you are there to assist the certified watchkeeper (OOW) to maintain a good lookout, identify targets (on radar) and transfer key information on vessel aspect (direction), size of vessel, speed, special conditions, course changes and ARPA.
- Price: R2100
- Duration: 1 day
RYA VHF Radio (SRC – Short Range Certificate)
A Radio Operators License is a key qualification for professional communication between ships and ports/marinas. This is a theory and practical course about understanding communication at sea.
- Price: R2000 (Excluding £70 payable to RYA to write the exam)
- Duration: 1 day
- Maritime laws
- GMDSS (Global Maritime and Distress and Safety System)
- Mayday,etc
- Functionality and capability of VHF radio.
RYA Tender Operator
This new qualification was launched in 2015 at the Monaco Boat Show. This was brought about through a collective effort from the RYA and PYA (Professional Yachting Association), as there have been growing calls from within the superyacht industry to step up the skills of entry-level crew with regards to tender driving and safety, especially during night hours.
- Price: R6000
- Duration: 2 days
SYSA Deckhand Course
Our signature and extremely valuable training programme, includes all of the information on entering the industry. The list of what we cover in 3 days is extensive, however view our additional information below to see a few key topics.
- Price: R5750
- Duration: 3 days
- Career progression
- Visas
- CV’s
- Crew agencies
- Deckhand duties and practical application of products and maintenance
- Water sports
- Varnishing and Paint work
- Line handling, etc.
RYA Powerboat Level II (PB2)
This course is absolutely essential for all crew (Deckhands, Engineers, Steward/esses and Chefs). Superyacht guests are regularly ferried/tendered between the yachts and the shore. It is imperative that the crew hold this license for all tender driving duties required. We strive to keep the highest standard on this one.
- Price: R5000
- Duration: 2 days
- Close quarters handling
- Planing manoeuvres
- Man overboard recovery
- Anchoring
- Collision regulations
- Fuelling
- Navigation and compass
- Buoyage, etc.
Superyacht Watersports Instructors Course
Imagine being the go-to watersports instructor on board a superyacht, guiding guests through thrilling activities and creating unforgettable experiences. SYSA is thrilled to partner with the renowned UK watersports guru Matt Crowhurst to offer this course. This course is tailored for individuals who are passionate about the superyacht industry, watersports, and delivering exceptional guest experiences. To participate, you should have a basic level of wakeboarding proficiency – comfortable getting up, riding, and crossing wakes.
- Price: R12 000
- Duration: 5 days
- Improve boat handling skills on inboard vessels commonly seen on watersports-intensive super yachts.
- Master the art of towing wakeboarders, tubers, waterskiers, and wake surfers.
- Learn the nuances of launching, retrieving, and docking these vessels.
- Understand the ballast set-up, pre-checks, and the use of various cruise control systems in watersports operations
- Develop instructional skills tailored for wakeboard, waterski, and the popular wakesurf disciplines.
- Gain hands-on experience in driving, instructing, and demonstrating.
- Learn the safest, simplest, and most efficient techniques to help novices in watersports.
- Engage in collaborative learning, sharing inputs and insights with peers to enhance the training experience.Understand the ballast set-up, pre-checks, and the use of various cruise control systems in watersports operations