South West Maritime Academy

Customer Reviews

South West Maritime Academy reviews as published on Google:

• David Balastegui Gonzalez

  

  Average rating: 3 weeks ago

  Was such a great experience with amazing teaching instructors and fantastic classmates!
  So much to learn from all instructors would like to choose my favourite one but I can’t as I couldn’t fault any of them. Would highly recommend and can’t wait to go in five years time!!

• Zoe Mikaela

  

  Average rating: 3 weeks ago

  A great and informative course that I would highly recommend to anyone! All modules were great and fun. Special shoutout to Darren who was an incredible tutor, gave us all the information we needed to stay safe but also made it highly enjoyable.

• Alex Pearce

  

  Average rating: 2 months ago

  I completed the Powerboat Level 2 course with Stuart and it was brilliant. Really good instruction, accompanied by clear explanation of the the importance of each lesson being taught. Thank you so much!

• Alex Quick

  

  Average rating: 3 months ago

  A very very informative course taught by a wonderfully knowledgable instructor in Stuart. Mostly practical as I’d hoped and I feel 100% more competent in handling a boat.

• stephanie highmoor

  

  Average rating: in the last week

  Completed RYA 2 Powerboat August 2024 - Excellent course, facilities and staff - thoroughly recommend.

• Ben O'Mahony

  

  Average rating: 9 July 2024

  I recently completed my STCW Refreshers with SWMA our instructor Jack was in depth, knowledgeable and insightful. It was nice to still learn new skills and techniques in such a practical environment.
  
  On top of all this by no fault but my own, i got my days mixed up and missed my final course. I called them and spoke with Lisa who told me she would see what they can do. Amazingly the Ops Manager Peter was able to get 1 on 1 course organized for me with Paul who was amazing despite feeling under the weather. He took me through in great detail, also speaking from his experience which really gave me a different perspective. There were no silly questions. I came away from the course feeling more confident in my ability's in stressful and difficult situations.
  
  I couldn't recommend this academy enough, without the whole team going above and beyond for me id be in big trouble. So thank you very much, i will definitely be back!
  
  THANK YOU!
  
  All the best,
  
  Ben

• Dominic Breese

  

  Average rating: 23 June 2024

  I recently completed my STCW95 course at South West Maritime Academy, and the experience was exceptional. Paul, our instructor, was outstanding—his expertise, clarity, and engaging teaching style made complex topics easy to understand and retain. The academy's facilities are excellent, and their focus on safety and professionalism is evident throughout the training. I highly recommend South West Maritime Academy for anyone pursuing maritime qualifications; it’s a top-notch institution with remarkable instructors like Paul.

• Sam John

  

  Average rating: 21 June 2024

  Great place to learn the instructors are great I’ve done my STCW & my AEC1 and they’ve been brilliant

• Sarah Medland

  

  Average rating: 10 June 2024

  Attended 2 day RYA level 2 Powerboat course in Portishead. Our instructor, Stuart, was super knowledgeable and professional. Able to cater for very mixed abilities. He was patient and supportive when needed, but also made sure we were challenged at every opportunity. We now feel much more knowledgeable and have the basic skills in place to enjoy our new boat safely. Highly recommend.

• JOSEPH SIGLEY

  

  Average rating: 25 February 2024

  Just spent the week here, doing my course, thank you all so much, amazing
  Teachers and iv learnt soooo much thank you guys, loved the course, 5x from me

• Greg Donaldson

  

  Average rating: 8 December 2023

  Having completed the STCW and AEC courses here. I found the facilities and teachers great.

• Towfloat Gal (Towfloatgal)

  

  Average rating: 23 November 2023

  Beautiful view, crystal clear water for swimming/diving. Wild birds, little fish visible sometimes.
  Marquee for changing/shelter. Hot drinks/snack bar. Lifeguards & safety support. Online booking only. ?over 14's only for swimming though children allowed as spectators.

• Sophia Geseova

  

  Average rating: 17 November 2023

  Great personnel and facility. Very helpful and highly skilled professionals. Had a great time for the whole week and learned a lot of new things!

• Matthew Warren

  

  Average rating: 12 August 2023

  What an excellent facility SWMA provides. The MCA Approved Engine Course 1 that I completed was delivered by a very knowledgeable trainer with extensive real world experience and whose anecdotes really helped to bring the subject matter to life. Training material went beyond the MCA's minimum criteria and was delivered in a way that made it relevant to attendees with differing backgrounds and interests. The team on site are universally warm and welcoming. Thanks for a great week.

• Elle

  

  Average rating: 4 August 2023

  Absolutely gorgeous. Cold turquoise water. They also have a changing tent and can to get hot drinks.

• Fiona Hampton-Matthews

  

  Average rating: 27 July 2023

  If you have dive kit which needs servicing then Tony who runs the workshop here is your man. Very helpful.

• Stephen Bennett

  

  Average rating: 20 June 2023

  Great STCW 2010 course led by some really fantastic staff and Instructors.

• Tom Smethurst

  

  Average rating: 30 March 2023

  Excellent training centre! Staff are very knowledgeable and good fun and the facilities are great. Particularly like the use of the quarry for survival training, makes it seem more realistic than a heated swimming pool! Will definitely be returning for more courses in the future.

• Tom Bolton

  

  Average rating: 8 February 2023

  Well delivered course, good facilities, really knowledgeable instructors and helpful staff.

• Scott Wylie

  

  Average rating: 24 November 2022

  I attended South West Maritime Academy for my Sea Survival course. Having the quarry and ability to enter the water from height is a great advantage over training in a swimming pool as it prepares you for what it might be like to enter the water in a realistic way (i.e. water temperature, outdoor weather, etc.). The instructor was very knowledgably, the course material was covered at good (correct) pace and I feel comfortable with working at sea as a result.
  
  I would have no problem recommending them for anyone needing this type of training and I will contact them again when a refresher is needed or something else they cover is required by me or my employer.

• Jose Hernandez

  

  Average rating: 17 November 2022

  My experience in this school has been wonderful. The facilities are very complete, and the treatment of the administration is very good. Jon and Andrew the teachers are very professional and patient. I recommend it to anyone who needs to train in the maritime sector

• Andy White

  

  Average rating: 14 November 2022

  A fantastic experience. Thankyou Jon Lewis for sharing your experience and running an excellent course - the teaching was top notch !!

• Gezza Gezza

  

  Average rating: 25 October 2022

  Fantastic place to go to. Did my stcw2010 updates 4 day course last week. Very well run and organised course and all very professional. Very informative and helpful instructors. Also reception staff very helpful when booking course. Keep up the great work. Gerry.

• Sarah Evans

  

  Average rating: 3 March 2022

  Amazing safe place to swim . Lovely people using it and staff friendly and professional.

• Dave Ainslie

  

  Average rating: 28 January 2022

  Good course to attend.

• Alison Herbert

  

  Average rating: 20 January 2022

  Undertook the basic STCW course in July 2021 during the hottest week of the year in preparation for working with a NGO in the Oceania region. Great team of instructors who communicated well with all levels and all ages. As the oldest person on my course, by a couple of decades at least, my needs were met as well as the youngest on the course.

• William Trezise

  

  Average rating: 12 December 2021

  This is a great training venue, for scuba diving.
  Friendly helpful staff, with hands off approach, very refreshing.
  Thank you I hope 2022 will bring us back again.

• GD Buller

  

  Average rating: 6 December 2021

  Second time here in 5 years, all good ex professionals taking classes..

• Alan Ham

  

  Average rating: 17 October 2021

  Good experience well knowable teaching staff made everyone welcome. Would recommend

• Gregg Ruthven

  

  Average rating: 19 July 2021

  Great team of instructors with a wide range of knowledge and experience.

• Liam Sams

  

  Average rating: 29 June 2021

  Great instruction throughout all courses, knowledgeable and approachable staff

• Luke Doyle

  

  Average rating: 17 June 2021

  I never heard of this training centre before, I did a google search for STCW renewals. I completed the 4days renewals. From the start of enquiring about the course and the questions, they have a friendly response quickly. Easy to book on the required course online. They are happy to receive emails with questions and phone calls. They really do put the students first.
  All the staff working there are top of their game, knowledgable approachable and friendly.
  I would highly recommend this place for your STCW short course, with a great location easy to get to with plenty of accommodation near by.
  The courses are run to a very high standard while keeping everything realistic. The instructors have a extremely high level of knowledge and experience. It shows they are still active either in the fire brigade or on ship. So they are in tune with latest techniques, procedures and requirements. I have taken away a lot of new techniques.
  The practical sessions in fire fighting and sea survival was really enjoyable, energetic and all learning points covered clearly.
  All their equipment is of a very high quality and in a fantastic condition especially considering it’s used by students all the time. I have been to many training schools and got soaked in a immersion suit but stayed bone dry in there’s.
  Highly recommend South West Maritime Academy to all. I will be doing my next course there to.

• mandy thorne

  

  Average rating: 3 May 2021

  Very well organised. One way in and out.

• tom eves

  

  Average rating: 26 January 2021

  Great place to do your training, good facilities and staff

• John Purves

  

  Average rating: 26 November 2020

  Great facilities for carrying out basic and refresher courses for mariners. Lecturers are very knowledgeable and friendly, and keep you involved (and therefore awake).

• Helen Forsyth

  

  Average rating: 19 October 2020

  Open Water Swimmer. Lovely sense of community about the place, people friendly and relaxed, staff helpful. Feel safe in the water as always someone watching. Water clean and clear, easy parking. Loo X2 on site and shipping containers to get changed in, if you need a little protection from the elements!

• lisa evett

  

  Average rating: 18 October 2020

  Lovely place for a swim. Friendly people, great scenery and warmest water out of my local places to swim.

• Kiren Fernandes

  

  Average rating: 18 October 2020

  As a long time member of Crommy was gutted when Maggie and Simon had announced they were no longer going to run the place. However the team who have re-opened it have surpassed expectations. They have done a great job.It’s the safe wonderful place open to all open water swimmers newbies, oldies and all in between.

• Dave Mason

  

  Average rating: 18 October 2020

  I am a new diver and used the facilities at Cromhall quarry for the first time last week. Thoroughly enjoyed my time there with two great dives. The quarry is local to me and I will likely become a regular there. New kitting up benches made things easy for us. It was great to see the aircraft recently added to the sights to see on the quarry floor a long with shoals of minnows in the shallows. Looking forward to exploring some more

• Peter Hall

  

  Average rating: 29 September 2020

  Five star service on diving cylinder fills and testing. Very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Good prices. Highly recommended.

• Conor Magennis

  

  Average rating: 25 August 2020

  excellent training centre

• Masile89

  

  Average rating: 12 August 2020

  Excellent facilities, very good staff

• Eddie Watkins

  

  Average rating: 19 June 2020

  Great STCW Course, very professional. The course was run with all the guidelines to Covid-19 in place and everyone felt very safe and happy to comply. Would 100% recommend to anyone.

• Peter Medlock

  

  Average rating: 28 February 2020

  Great course taught by a wide variety of experienced professionals instructors

• Greg Hancock

  

  Average rating: 19 December 2019

  Adv fire, felt like an Instructors instructors course. Good guys no BS get on and do it.

• Ana Rita Da Silva

  

  Average rating: 16 December 2019

  I recently completed the STCW course and can honestly say it was insane. In a good way. I never imagined being in those situations but I now know how to deal with it if it ever happens. The professionalism, knowledge and banter from the instructors made this whole week amazing. I highly recommend South West Maritime Academy. Thank you so much to John and Luke for pushing us beyond our comfort zone!! WE MADE IT.

• I’m Owen Jackson

  

  Average rating: 16 December 2019

  I completed my STCW training here this week for my new position with Virgins Scarlett Lady. The instructors were incredibly friendly yet the professionalism, knowledge and ability to instruct can not be faulted. The course was filled with a lot of information and exercises that seemed very daunting but through the exceptional training given I felt confident with the situation at hand by the time it came to it. Whatever course you are looking to do and wherever you are from, I would undoubtably recommend Southwest Maritime Academy. Thanks Jon and the team!

• Jack

  

  Average rating: 4 December 2019

  Well what can I say other than amazing....... from the grounds and set up to the people on site! The level of knowledge provided from these guys is outstanding, after completing my STCW training course I now feel I have the best set up for the super yacht industry.
  The equipment at South West Maritime Academy is kept to the highest of standards which again provides me with the up most confidence in the training provided.
  
  While talking with South West Maritime I found out about their sister school "Palma sea school" based In Palma which offers a vast number of courses and training. I proceeded to complete my day skipper with theirselves again to the highest of standards and absolutely over the moon with the training/knowledge I received from the expert instructors!
  
  Update: since completing my STCW course I have returned to complete my RYA Vhf exam which again was outstanding, on arrival I was greeted with with happy staff with smiling faces which to me says a lot about the working/training environment of the establishment.
  Can't wait to return to complete my MCA AEC course later this month.

• Andrew Griffiths

  

  Average rating: 31 October 2019

  Without doubt, the best maritime training I've experienced. Very enthusiastic, experienced and committed instructors, that relate to real world scenarios. Not just ticking boxes.

• Ethan Paint

  

  Average rating: 29 October 2019

  Great place to do a few courses. The instructors are very knowledgeable and great at getting the class involved. Interactive training and very useful, I’d certainly come back for any additional courses.

• Bruce Watson

  

  Average rating: 13 July 2019

  A definite 1st choice for all potential candidates for STCW and maritime qualifications. The level of professionalism and realism relayed throughout the course is staggering. Life like scenarios carried out in a manner that allows for learning without prejudice and caters for all aspects of individual skill sets. The instructors are personable, informed and decent blokes. I didn’t imagine I’d enjoy the course as much as I did. I now feel far better prepared to face some of the unfortunate challenges one might face at sea, but better prepared for a crisis on land too. There aren’t enough superlatives to express to this fine establishment how superb they are.

• Keith Benson

  

  Average rating: 16 October 2018

  The quality of the courses, the location and the knowledge & professionalism displayed by Johnathan and his team are simply outstanding. This is a 5 Star company and I highly recommend them to anyone wishing to attain any of the qualifications they offer.

• joanne wayne

  

  Average rating: 13 October 2018

  I did STCW here and these guys were brilliant. Very experienced trainers who make the training interesting and relevant. They were also very patient and put you at ease when doing some of the more challenging fire scenarios. Definitely recommend them!

• Matthew Oosthuizen

  

  Average rating: 12 October 2018

  Instructors were absolutely bang on, no questions left unanswered and actually left with a few good mates!
  
  Thoroughly recommend this one, they’re not money hungry, they actually take the time and have the patience.
  
  Definitely will be using these guys again for future courses.
  
  See you soon!

• James Steer

  

  Average rating: 12 October 2018

  South West Maritime Academy delivered all our STCW update training for over 90 people. The training was second to none and the guys at SWMA really know their stuff. Since then, they have continued to support our training needs and have delivered Company Security Officer Training, Personal Survival Techniques and others training. They have also developed and delivered bespoke first aid training on board our ships, which received positive feedback from those involved.
  
  I can't recommend them enough.

• Pete Thorpe

  

  Average rating: 12 October 2018

  Amazing venue and facilities coupled with experienced and professional trainers. Would certainly recommend to anyone looking for a quality training experience! From the initial booking right through to the end of the course, the support we all received was second to none.Thanks once again to Johnathan and the team - We will certainly be back for more!

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