Caribbean Guard
Building a stronger, safer community in the water.
A community-led aquatic-safety organization serving Costa Rica's South Caribbean through lifesaving training, swimming education, patrols, prevention, and emergency-response coordination.
Impact
Water Emergency?
- Call 911 — give the exact beach or landmark.
- Do not enter dangerous water unless trained and equipped.
Caribbean Guard operates a community emergency-alert network of 70+ trained members including lifeguards, surfers, swimmers, fishers, divers, and freedivers. When an emergency is reported, a protocol is activated and nearby qualified community members may respond.
Whappin does not monitor emergencies or dispatch rescuers. In an emergency, always call 911 first.
Programs
Lifesaving Club
Continuing education, lifeguard courses, CPR and first-aid instructor training, swimming-instructor training, junior lifeguard / Nipper training, and ELLIS CPR training.
Swim Club
Free community swim sessions open to all.
Swim School
Free swimming instruction for local children.
Programa Playa Organizada
Organized Beach Program including red-and-yellow-flag supervised bathing zones, survival lines, drone mapping, rescue stations, emergency plans, rapid-response groups, and CPR/lifeguard training for local workers.
Emergency-Alert Network
A community emergency group of 70+ trained members who may respond when a protocol is activated.
Team
Co-founded Caribbean Guard in March 2021, organizing community patrols during the Easter swell.
Collaborated with Lucas Iturriza to organize the first community patrols and expand the initiative.
Information compiled from Caribbean Guard's public website. Operational details and schedules may change. Confirm directly with the organization.
Source references
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/ — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — mission, organizational philosophy
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/nuestro-trabajo — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — founding history, impact statistics, emergency network
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/lifesaving-club — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — programs, patrol locations, Saturday training, emergency network
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/swim-club — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — swim club schedule, swim school
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/programa-playa-organizada — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — organized beach program
- https://www.caribbeanguard.org/team — Caribbean Guard — accessed 2026-07-23 — team