Turn The Tide

Many children in South Africa’s coastal communities grow up within walking distance of the ocean but never learn to swim. For them, the sea represents risk, not recreation. The result is a high rate of drowning and a deep disconnection from the natural environment.

Turn the Tide is Sentinel Ocean Alliance’s response to this reality. It is an eight-week ocean therapy and education programme designed to teach swimming and ocean safety, build confidence, and support emotional wellbeing. The programme combines practical water sessions, theory lessons, and mindfulness practices to help children connect with the ocean in a safe and structured way. 

Small groups of learners work closely with trained coaches — young adults from the same communities who have been employed and upskilled through the programme. Lessons take place at the beach, where children learn essential swimming and safety skills, how to read ocean conditions, and how to respond calmly in challenging situations. Mindfulness and breathing exercises are built into each session, giving participants tools to manage stress both in and out of the water.

The programme also addresses barriers to access by providing transport, meals, and swimming gear to every participant. With a maximum ratio of three students per coach, children receive individual attention and consistent encouragement.

By the end of the eight weeks, most participants are able to swim and feel confident in the ocean. They also gain a deeper understanding of the ocean’s role in sustaining life and leave with a stronger sense of responsibility towards protecting it.

Turn the Tide reduces drowning risk, supports mental health, and restores a connection between young people and the ocean — turning fear into confidence, and proximity into belonging.

Talk to us about training your team to implement Turn the Tide in your coastal community.

We have partnered with organisations across South Africa, Africa, Central America, and the Caribbean, where communities face the same challenges of limited access, rising drowning rates, and disconnection from the natural world. Through this shared work, we are building a growing network of coastal programmes using the ocean as a tool for safety, healing, and connection.