About ASI

ASI’s mission is to raise global standards in surf and paddle education by delivering high‑quality, skills‑based training and ensuring safe, professional instruction through a worldwide network of ASI Accredited Schools.

Our training is built on applied, real‑world skills that practitioners use every day. Programs focus on developing practical capability across all core areas of professional practice:

Technical Skills — Progressive, hands‑on skill development relevant to real operating environments.

Safety & Rescue Skills — Risk management, situational awareness and effective emergency response.

Teaching & Coaching Skills — Structured lesson planning, clear communication and guided learner progression.

Operational Skills — Professional delivery through equipment management, site assessment and safe operating practices.

Learn‑to‑Skills Programs — Structured beginner pathways delivered by approved providers to ensure consistent standards.

ASI is a government‑endorsed Registered Training Organisation (RTO), audited to Australia’s strict education and compliance standards. These standards are applied internationally, ensuring ASI qualifications and Learn‑to‑Skills programs are trusted by schools, instructors, employers and regulators worldwide.

Australia

Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

Private education college, endorsed by the Australian Education Department, and issues Nationally Recognised Training Certificates.
RTO ID 91496  ASI Registration Information

Other

• NSW National Parks Accredited Training Provider for Eco Pass.
  NSW Tourism Department, recognised surf school tourism accreditation provider (covers operational and safety standards) 

• Recognised by all councils that have accreditation and instructor permit requirements.

• NSW Maritime recognised provider for Stand Up Paddle waterways permits.

Portugal

DGERT Training Organisation
ASI Portugal (ASIP) is a DGERT Certified Training Organisation in the area of Sport, issuing EQF (European Qualifications Framework) certificates.  
Endorsed by the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT) who are responsible for management of the Training Entities Certification System in Portugal.  

IPDJ Approved Training Organisation

ASI Is approved to deliver Surf Grau I and II courses in Portugal. We are the only international training organisation that holds the approval.

Philippines

ASI is the only endorsed Department of Tourism provider for surf schools and instructor training. 

United Kingdom

NVQ
ASI Australia RTO status is equivalent to the UK Awarding Body issuing NVQ qualifications.

AALA
In 2010, the Academy of Surfing Instructors (ASI) worked extensively with the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) to help identify instructor and operational standards for Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) in the UK.

AALS formally recognised ASI’s instructor awards as one of several valid means of demonstrating adequate competence for SUP instruction, reinforcing ASI’s role in setting high professional standards within the industry.   

AALA, the government body responsible for overseeing safety standards in adventure activities for young people, operates through its service arm, the Adventure Activities Licensing Service (AALS).

Other

• Cornwall Council (England) WAVES surf school licence scheme recognised provider

• Broads Authority (covering Norfolk and Suffolk, England waterways) recognised SUP training provider

• Partnered with Community Action Sports  (government funded initiative) to develop the Urban Surf program for youngsters from challenging backgrounds and currently delivered through ASI surf schools.  Urban Surf program awarded Inspire mark under the ‘London 2012 Inspire’ programme.

ASI was created and established in 2003 by Tania Nesbitt and Nigel Hutton-Potts at Bondi Beach, Australia. In response to the lack of recreational education and safety standards in the surfing industry, Potts & Nesbitt decided to set up ASI that would identify surfing standards and create and publish learn to surf books. 

They were then asked to create surfing instruction qualifications and accreditation standards in Australia, by surf school owners, who were disillusioned by the current sports association’s educational standards. 

Pretty soon, people around the world heard about ASI, wanted to be part of ASI and wanted to be trained by ASI.

What originally started as a hobby by Nesbitt and Potts, producing some learn to surf books, has expanded worldwide.  ASI now leads the development of global standards, gaining government approvals, and continues to set industry benchmarks in training, safety and professional accreditation.

Key Milestones

2003
ASI founded at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Identified and created the world’s first surfing skills‑level criteria for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. Released the ASI Learn to Surf – Beginner and Intermediate manuals.  Advanced level manual released  in 2010.

2004
Established the world’s first international standards for surf school operations, enabling global consistency in how schools are run.

Established the world’s first international standards for instructors, allowing mobility of instructors and consistent training requirements across the world.

2004-2010
Expansion into the Asia, UK, Europe, USA; delivering instructor training courses.

2008
Published a 450‑page report on Council permit and tender requirements for surf school operations in Australia.

Approved by Philippines Department of Tourism (DOT) as the official surfing instructor training provider.

2009
Established the first SUP instructor standards, SUP terminology, SUP skills framework and SUP school operating standards (developed with Jamie Mitchell, Will Anido and Darren Borg).

Became an Australian Registered Training Organisation (RTO), demonstrating ASI’s compliance with national vocational education standards and strengthening the credibility and recognition of its instructor training programs.

2010
Created the first bodyboarding accreditation standards for skills, instructors and school operations.

2014
Launched the Leash Up for SUP global safety campaign, adopted by government agencies and sports bodies worldwide.

2015
Awarded DGERT certified vocational training organisation status in Portugal – approved by Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho / Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations)

2019 
Awarded approval by IPDJ in Portugal as the only international organisation authorised to deliver government‑recognised surfing instructor training programs.

2020
Developed COVID operational standards for ASI school & instructors, and the COVID Quality Assured Standard.

Current
Continued global expansion, updating international standards across surfing, SUP and bodyboarding; ongoing development of new training courses, coaching pathways, safety systems and professional accreditation and liaison with government departments.

ASI operates across 50+ countries, supporting instructors, schools and training centres in diverse coastal and inland water environments. The ASI Worldwide Network provides global mobility and career opportunities for instructors and coaches.

Nigel Hutton-Potts (Founder and Director)

Nigel is a co-founding director of ASI and is well known and highly regarded in the Australian surfing community, as an elite free surfer, committed to the surfing lifestyle and promoting the sport.  He grew up surfing at Bondi Beach, Sydney Australia and spent considerable time in Bali, with fond memories of surfing Ulu’s on a single fin, with only him in the water.  

Nigel lives in Bondi Beach Australia and has travelled the world surfing and has lived in Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.  He also, speaks Japanese and Indonesian.  He holds trade qualifications in both carpentry and landscaping, as well certificates in financial management, Japanese language and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.   

As a premier authority on surf education, Nigel authored the industry-defining ASI Learn to Surf manual series (covering beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels). Unmatched in their depth, these publications remain worldwide best-sellers.

He embodies his life philosophy: to always have fun and enjoy what you love doing. When he isn't driving the organisation forward, he is never far from the ocean and the surf.

Tania Nesbitt (Founder & Managing Director)

Tania is a co-founding director of ASI and the driving force behind its expansion into a leading international organisation.

As a qualified accountant (CPA) with a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, Tania combines sharp commercial acumen with a deep understanding of educational frameworks. Her extensive expertise in business systems, controls, and compliance regulation has been foundational to ASI’s global structural integrity.

Tania’s career is rooted in high-level business strategy. Before launching ASI, she honed her skills at a "Big Four" accounting firm and served as director of a corporate training company specialising in sales and management.

Today, she channels that experience into troubleshooting business challenges, optimizing operations, and scaling ASI’s international footprint.

When she isn't expanding ASI's global reach, Tania is guided by her first love: the ocean. Based in Bondi Beach, Australia, she has travelled the world extensively and lived in the UK and Italy—permanently chasing the sun in pursuit of the ultimate endless summer.

ASI is guided by an experienced leadership team and industry advisory panels who oversee standards development, compliance, training quality and international expansion.

ASI courses are delivered by experienced, industry‑active trainers who run their own schools and have taught thousands of students. Their expertise ensures every course is practical, relevant and aligned with real‑world conditions.