Welcome to Port Vincent Aquatic Centre

About Us

The Port Vincent Aquatic Centre is a Department for Education aquatic centre which is a division of the water safety team. Our base is located at Port Vincent, 200 kilometres from Adelaide half way down Yorke Peninsula. We conduct lessons in the safe & picturesque  Port Vincent bay but also offer other activities at other locations around Yorke Peninsula.

Our Aims

To provide a safe efficient, cost effective & responsive specialist service to schools to assist students develop a range of lifetime knowledge, skills & understanding about;

  • Water safety
  • Survival in the water
  • Rescue of others
  • Mobility in, on & around the water
  • Environment issues that impact our oceans

Session Times

  • 9:30am –  11.00am
  • Morning Break (15 mins)
  • 11:15am – 12.45pm
  • Lunch (45 mins)
  • 1.30pm – 3.00pm
  • Afternoon Break (15 mins)
  • 3.15pm – 4.45pm

Programs

At Berry Bay & OTher Sites

  • Surfing
  • Body boarding
  • Fishing
  • Surf education
  • Snorkelling
  • Kayaking trips

Risk Assessment

Document DOwnloads

Fishing

(Adobe PDF, 183KB)

Kayaking at Pt Vincent

(Adobe PDF, 464KB)

Kayaking Trips

(Adobe PDF, 463KB)

Knee Boarding

(Adobe PDF, 464KB)

Sailboarding

(Adobe PDF, 504KB)

Sailing

(Adobe PDF, 525KB)

Snorkelling

(Adobe PDF, 483KB)

Stand Up Paddle Board

(Adobe PDF, 503KB)

Surf Safety Berry Bay

(Adobe PDF, 469KB)

Surf Safety Bluff Beach

(Adobe PDF, 470KB)

Surf Safety Pt. Vincent Bay

(Adobe PDF, 467KB)

Surfing

(Adobe PDF, 483KB)

Instructors

All instructors employed at the centre must have a current dcsi & catholic education working with children screening, they cannot be employed if this lapses.

  • Applied first aid
  • Annual surf rescue & cpr update
  • Asthma first aid
  • Epipen training
  • Responding to abuse & neglect
  • Australian sailing, dingy sailing instuctor
  • Australian sailing, windsurfing instuctor
  • Australian waterski federation, level 1 knee boarding coach
  • Australian underwater federation, level 1 ocean snorkel coach
  • Australian canoeing, flatwater instructor
  • Power boat handling or boat licence
  • Austswim instructor
  • Paddle Australia Paddling Supervisor – Kayak

What other teachers and students have said…

"

Our School has participated in the Pt Vincent Aquatic program for over 10 years with our Year 6/7 students thoroughly enjoying the aquatic camp and is very much a highlight of their school year.

Mark Short and his team of professional instructors have been fabulous to work with, both friendly and approachable. The activities are suitable for our aged students and the well trained experienced instructors are able to cater to suit the wide abilities of our students in a safe and supportive environment. Many of our students have not experienced any of the water activities offered in the program.

Pt Vincent on the Yorke Peninsula, is a great country town, with good facilities to support school camps and learn aquatics.

Based on the many experiences as a leader and seeing our students flourish in what initially is a little scary environment at first for them, I highly recommend the Pt Vincent Aquatic program.

– Keith Hooker
Assistant Principal, Craigmore South Primary School

"

I have been taking groups of students to Port Vincent Aquatic Centre since 2014, and will continue to do so well into the future. The team at PVAC are accommodating, helpful, friendly and work tremendously with all students of different ages and group sizes. The staff/instructors are extremely knowledgeable and are willing to diversify programmes to suit the group of students that are attending. The centre offers such a variety of activities from sailing to surfing that programs are always engaging. I highly recommending giving Mark a call to see what they can work out for your group!

– Bradley Channon
Ardrossan Area School

"

Kadina Memorial School has been visiting Port Vincent Aquatics Camp for many years – Each time it is a real highlight for the students. They love trying new and challenging water sports and are always well supported by the knowledgeable, friendly and supportive instructors. I look forward to continuing to be bring my classes to PVAC for many years to come!

– Kristina Toole
Year 7 Teacher and Year Level Manager, Kadina Memorial School

"

The aquatics camp this year, made a significant difference to one of our year 7 students. She has a trauma background and presents in the learning environment as a medically diagnosed selective mute. Just prior to the camp, her mother was very concerned that she was far too interested in some of the darker aspects of ‘teenage goth’ and she seemed to have little hope for the future.

Within the school environment the student is only able to converse functionally but not deeply. This aspect has not changed and is not likely to change within a school environment without significant and ongoing individual adjustments.

The child is also on the autism spectrum, but this has not been diagnosed.

She usually presents with a ‘frozen face’ and is very hard to get an emotive response from.

What has changed is her attitude at home and her demeanour at school. Post camp, it was easier to get a flicker of emotion, at times only a glint in her eye, from her when we communicated about the camp, and her possible futures. At home she has changed from having ‘no hope’ to wanting to try more water sports, and it thinking of vast list of careers that involve water eg diver, navy. And mum is pleased – no teenage goth.

I am sure the aquatics camp had a significant impact on this child and I feel we have sent her off to high school in a much more positive and healthier frame of mind.

Thank you.

– Cheryl Glenie
Principal, Riverton Primary School

"

I’ve been bringing students to Pt. Vincent Aquatics Centre for 20 years. The Centre provides a wide range of great activities run by friendly and knowledgeable instructors. They do a great job of teaching students the skills and knowledge associated with the aquatics activities as well as how to remain safe in and around the water at all times.  A great environment for a school camp.

– Nick Turra
Secondary Pathways Coordinator, Port Broughton Area School

"

Clare High School has a long standing affiliation with Pt Vincent Aquatic Centre and our students spend time in aquatics camps from year 7 to year 12. Mark and his team are amazingly easy to work with, they create a relaxed yet safe environment for our young people to experience new activities. We love their flexibility to cater for our schools and student’s specific needs; from year 7 first experiences through to Stage 2 HPE and Outdoor Education surfing, kayaking and snorkelling as well as expedition kayaking along the coast. The staff bring a wealth of experience and knowledge about all things aquatics as well as instil an environmental appreciation and love for the Yorke Peninsula.

– Kylie Alozie
Year 9 & 10 Coordinator, Clare High School

"

 In my time at Orroroo Area school we have visited the Port Vincent Aquatics Centre (PVAC) for our SACE aquatics program each year since 2004, and Year 7/8 class camp at different times, over 16 years. In this time the staff have been nothing but professional, highly skilled and compassionate instructors to all students in their care. The PVAC provide a flexible and diverse range of activities that cater for all ages, levels of confidence and experience with aquatic activities. The PVAC has the mix of water safety, fun and skill development just right!

– Matt Dignan
Senior Coordinator, PE teacher Yrs 7-12, Orroroo Area School

"

We have been using Port Vincent Aquatics Centre for our School camps for a number of years. Their friendly, professional and highly experienced staff  have provided us with many great learning experiences through snorkelling, kayaking and surfing. They are easy to work with and will adapt programs to suit the needs of our students. For a great educational and fun experience we highly recommend booking with Port Vincent Aquatics Centre.

– Brett Middleton
Secondary Student Wellbeing Coordinator, Mid North Christian College

"

Williamstown Primary School students have been enjoying the delights of the Port Vincent Aquatics Centre for at least 20 years.

During that time I have had the pleasure of attending with the students on several occasions and have been pleased with the amazing time the students have had and the skills they have learned.

Many students have started out nervous about some of the activities but with the help and encouragement of Shorty and the awesome staff and instructors at the centre, they not only gave it a try but had such a good time they wanted to do it over and over again.

We have had students with special needs who were able to access 1:1 support and the rapport the support staff built with the students was commendable, ensuring these students not only had a fun time but also felt comfortable enough to try each new skill offered.

Students are always engrossed in the program and enjoying the activities so much that we have minimal to no “sit outs” during the aquatics.   

By the end of the camp our students are happily exhausted and always sad to leave.

Most of our students credit the Port Vincent Aquatics Camp as being one of the main highlights of their primary school life at their Year 7 Graduation each year.

I would highly recommend this Centre to any school or group for an amazing camp experience offering a range of aquatic programs that are both fun and educational at a very reasonable price.

– Debbie Gardner
Business Manager, Williamstown Primary School

Contact Us

Port Vincent Aquatic Centre

Manager: Mark Short

Phone: (08) 8853 7312
Mobile: 0417 878 296
Email: Mark.Short924@schools.sa.edu.au

Address: 14 Marine Parade, Port Vincent SA 5581
Postal: PO BOX 1165, Port Vincent, SA 5581

Accommodation Options:

  • PORT VINCENT SEASIDE CARAVAN PARK & CABINS
    PHONE MARK & SHARON 8853 7011 MOBILE 0427 232 030
  • PORT VINCENT FORSHORE CARAVAN PARK
    PHONE SHANE & LOUISE 8853 7073
  • TUCKERWAY HOSTEL, GIRL GUIDES
    PHONE REBECCA O’LEARY 8418 0900
  • STANSBURY CARAVAN PARK
    PHONE  KATY & STEVE 8852 4171
  • CORNY POINT CARAVAN PARK
    PHONE CHARLIE 8855 3368 MOBILE 0417 885 449
  • PORT JULIA CAMP GROUND
    PHONE LYN & TERRY MOBILE 0439 736 786

Have an enquiry?

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