Our Story
Ten years ago, a vision was born, to create a place where community, camaraderie, and the vital skills of water safety and surf lifesaving could come together in Pilbara.
What started as an ambitious idea has grown into a thriving club, now proudly known as the Dampier Surf Life Saving Club
From Humble Beginnings
In 2015, the Port Walcott Surf Life Saving Club was established with 103 enthusiastic members ready to learn, train, and support each other. Despite the skeptics who questioned how a surf club could exist in a region with no waves, extreme heat, and red sand instead of golden beaches, our founding members persevered. Their passion and determination laid the foundation for surf lifesaving in Pilbara.
By the 2018/2019 season, growing interest meant families from Karratha and Dampier were travelling to Port Walcott each weekend. To better support the community, training sessions alternated between Dampier Beach and Port Walcott.
In 2020, Cyclone Damien destroyed the Port Walcott Yacht Club, forcing us to relocate exclusively to Dampier Beach. With support from the City of Karratha and the Hampton Harbour Boat and Sailing Club, we moved into a small shed within the club facilities and our membership almost doubled that year.
A year later, in 2021, we officially became the Dampier Surf Life Saving Club, reflecting our home base and strong community roots
Expanding Our Reach
As Pilbara continued to grow, so did we. In 2023, in partnership with the Point Samson Community Association and the City of Karratha, we proudly launched the Point Samson Hub.
This hub allows families to enjoy Nippers and Surf Sports locally, without needing to travel to Dampier.
Today, with hubs in Dampier and Point Samson, our membership has grown to more than 350 members, ranging from age 3 to 70.
Training, Competition & Community
Our club is about much more than Nippers. We provide water safety services for community events, run free training for our members in First Aid, the Surf Rescue Certificate, and Bronze Medallion, and deliver Community Rescue Certificate courses to schools and local businesses. We’re proud to educate and empower locals with the skills to stay safe around the coast, more than 50 community members trained just this year alone.
Despite our remote location, we actively compete across WA. Our members have travelled thousands of kilometres to represent Pilbara in events such as the Broome Sunset Challenge, WA Country Carnival, Albany Surf Craft Challenge, and Avon Bonds to Bayswater Belter always returning home with pride and often medals.
A Decade of Growth
From 103 founding members to more than 1,400 individuals who have been part of our journey, our club has always been about community, connection, and resilience.
The Dampier Surf Life Saving Club is not just about training skills in the ocean, it’s about building friendships, supporting one another, and creating a place where all generations can learn, grow, and belong.
We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, trainers, Age Group Managers, members, sponsors, and local businesses whose dedication and support make everything we do possible.
Thanks to their contributions, we’ve been able to keep fees affordable, equipment up to date and programs accessible to families across the Pilbara.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate our first decade, we are proud of how far we’ve come but we’re even more excited about what’s next. With plans for new facilities and clubrooms on the horizon, and a commitment to expanding our programs, the future of the Dampier Surf Life Saving Club is brighter than ever.
