Become a Certified Lifeguard in Colombia with ALA

If you go to the beaches, lakes, or swimming pools in Colombia, you’ll notice lifeguards on duty, ensuring that visitors are safe while enjoying the water. A lifeguard’s primary responsibility is to prevent accidents and respond quickly to emergencies. This is why specialized training is mandatory. Lifeguard training in Colombia provides the skills needed to protect swimmers at beaches, pools, and aquatic parks across the country.

Colombia is home to more than 3,000 kilometers of coastline, spread across the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, along with countless rivers, lakes, and public swimming pools. With such abundant water resources, swimming and water recreation are an essential part of daily life and tourism.

From the famous beaches of Cartagena and Santa Marta to the growing number of waterparks and resort pools, the need for certified lifeguards in Colombia is strong. The demand increases during the summer and holiday seasons when locals and tourists gather in large numbers at aquatic destinations.

Lifeguards in Colombia

Lifeguards in Colombia are responsible for maintaining safety in a wide range of aquatic environments—ocean beaches, hotel pools, recreation centers, waterparks, and natural lakes.

Lifeguard training in Colombia is the essential first step to entering this career. With certification from the American Lifeguard Association (ALA), lifeguards gain credibility and access to employment opportunities both locally and internationally.

ALA training centers in Colombia provide flexible programs year-round. While most enrollments happen in the summertime, indoor pools and aquatic centers ensure that training and job opportunities are available throughout the year.

With over 30 years of experience, ALA-certified lifeguards are trusted worldwide, and Colombian candidates benefit from carrying a recognized credential that employers value.

About the American Lifeguard Association

The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) is supported by Global Lifeguards and the Swimming Pool and Spa Foundation, nonprofit organizations dedicated to aquatic safety and drowning prevention.

ALA’s mission is to reduce drowning risks and make beaches, pools, and waterways safer. To achieve this, the organization works closely with employers in Colombia and abroad to deliver professional lifeguard training.

The association has been listed on the CDC Healthy Swimming program and acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) for maintaining training standards similar to those of the American Red Cross. Since the 1990s, ALA has also aligned its courses with Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety requirements, ensuring top-quality instruction.

Training programs follow ECC science and recommendations from the United States Lifeguard Training Standards Coalition Report, while also encouraging facilities to comply with the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC).

Requirements for Lifeguard Training in Colombia

To enroll in lifeguard training through ALA in Colombia, participants must meet the following requirements:

• Age Requirements:

  • At least 15 years old to work at swimming pools, waterparks, or lakes

  • At least 16 years old to work at beaches and open water

• Swimming & Rescue Skills:

  • Swim 300 yards continuously, including:

    • 100 yards front crawl with rhythmic breathing

    • 100 yards breaststroke (pull, breath, kick, glide)

    • 100 yards of either stroke (or combination)

  • Complete a timed event:

    • Swim 20 yards using front crawl or breaststroke

    • Surface dive 7–10 feet to retrieve a 10-pound object

    • Swim back 20 yards carrying the object

    • Exit the water without using steps or a ladder

    • All within 1 minute, 40 seconds

After completing the program, participants receive an ALA Lifeguard Certificate, including Lifeguarding, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and First Aid, valid for two years.

Lifeguard Training in Colombia for a Career Path

Many people view lifeguarding as a seasonal job for students, but in Colombia, it can also lead to year-round employment and long-term careers. Indoor swimming facilities, resort pools, and aquatic centers often require permanent staff.

With additional training, lifeguards can progress to roles such as:

• Water Safety Instructor

• Swim Coach

• Aquatic Program Supervisor

These positions provide more responsibility, higher pay, and opportunities to advance within the aquatic safety field.

Skills You’ll Learn in ALA Training in Colombia

Rescue Skills

• Slide-In Entry, Stride Jump, Compact Jump

• Active and Passive Drowning Victim Rescues

• Extension and Reaching Assists

• Submerged Victim Recovery (shallow and deep water)

• Two-Person Removal with a Backboard

• Multiple-Victim Rescue

• Front and Rear Head-Hold Escapes

Caring for Head, Neck, and Back Injuries

• Manual in-line stabilization (land and water)

• Head Splint and Head & Chin Support techniques

• Backboard use in shallow and deep water rescues

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

• Adult, child, and infant CPR (one- and two-rescuer methods)

• Rescue breathing

• Choking response techniques

• AED use for adults and children

First Aid Skills

• Secondary assessment of injuries

• Controlling external bleeding

• Splinting and slings for fractures and sprains

Final Practical Scenarios

• Active drowning victim

• Submerged passive victim

• Head, neck, or back injury in water

Would you like to read about: Lifeguard training in peru

Famous Colombian Beaches and Destinations Where Lifeguards Are Essential

Colombia is home to some of the most beautiful beaches and tourist hotspots in South America. With so many locals and visitors enjoying the water, certified lifeguards are crucial to maintaining safety in these popular areas:

• Cartagena – Famous for its Old Town charm, nearby beaches, and day trips to the Islas del Rosario, a major tourist destination where lifeguards are often on duty.

• Santa Marta – A busy port city and resort hub, serving as the gateway to Tayrona National Park, with its pristine beaches that attract thousands of swimmers and hikers.

• Parque Nacional Natural Tayrona – Known for its biodiverse rainforest and historic Pueblito ruins, this park also offers stunning beaches where lifeguards play an important safety role.

• San Andrés – A Caribbean island paradise with coral reefs and beach resorts, drawing international visitors year-round, where lifeguards ensure safe swimming conditions.

• Medellín – While not coastal, the city’s modern aquatic complexes and pools, including those linked to its famous Flower Festival, also require certified lifeguards.

• Bogotá – The capital features indoor pools and recreational facilities, where trained lifeguards protect swimmers alongside cultural attractions like the Museo del Oro.

• Barranquilla – Known for its vibrant Carnival, the city’s pools and water venues also benefit from lifeguard services, particularly during festive seasons.

• Rosario Islands – A top destination for snorkeling and coral reef exploration, lifeguards are essential here due to the high volume of aquatic activities.

• Cali – Famous for salsa dancing and cultural landmarks, Cali also hosts public pools and aquatic centers that employ lifeguards year-round.

Start Your Lifeguard Journey Today

The primary goal of lifeguard training in Colombia is to ensure that every swimmer remains safe. Whether stationed in a tall chair at a resort pool, patrolling Cartagena’s beaches, or monitoring a crowded waterpark, lifeguards serve as guardians of public safety.

With more than three decades of experience, the American Lifeguard Association continues to be one of the most respected providers of aquatic safety training worldwide.

For those searching for “lifeguard training near me” in Colombia, ALA is the right choice. Contact the American Lifeguard Association today to begin your certification journey.