A dedicated MCA-approved training facility at Cromhall Quarry in South Gloucestershire, delivering STCW, RYA, medical, engineering and superyacht pathway courses for professional maritime crew.
Book direct →South West Maritime Academy is an MCA-approved training centre and RYA Training Centre based at the Cromhall Quarry facility in South Gloucestershire. The academy delivers the full suite of STCW Basic Safety Training, advanced updates, refresher packages and individual STCW module courses for professional seafarers and superyacht crew at all stages of their career.
Beyond STCW, the academy covers security training (PDSD, Ship Security Officer and Company Security Officer), medical courses from Elementary First Aid through to Proficiency in Medical Care, and MCA Approved Engine Courses (AEC1 and AEC2) for engineering officers. RYA Powerboat qualifications at multiple levels and GMDSS VHF SRC round out the recreational and tender-operation pathway.
For those entering the superyacht industry, South West Maritime Academy offers Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certification alongside dedicated superyacht introductory packages — providing a clear pathway from first steps to Officer of the Watch. The academy holds GWO (Global Wind Organisation) approval alongside its MCA and RYA credentials.
STCW-compliant Basic Safety Training delivered at the Cromhall Quarry facility. Scheduled sessions run throughout the year with waiting-list options when fully booked.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Update packages available over 2 days (£429), 3 days (£612) and 4 days (£814), plus individual updating courses including Updated Proficiency in Personal Survival Techniques and Updated Proficiency in Survival Craft & Rescue Boats.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Security training covering Proficiency in Security Awareness, Proficiency in Designated Security Duties, Ship Security Officer and Company Security Officer qualifications for commercial vessel crew.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Medical courses comprising Elementary First Aid (£135), Proficiency in Medical First Aid and Proficiency in Medical Care — covering all STCW medical certification requirements for crew at sea.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →MCA Approved Engine Course 1 (AEC1) and Approved Engine Course 2 (AEC2), with a combined ten-day AEC1 & AEC2 package at £1,462.50 — a saving on booking both courses separately.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Efficient Deck Hand (EDH) certification and dedicated superyacht introductory packages, providing a clear stepping stone towards Officer of the Watch for those entering the professional superyacht industry.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →RYA Powerboat courses at Level 1, Level 2, Intermediate and Advanced — essential qualifications for tender operators and crew working aboard superyachts and commercial vessels.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →RYA VHF Short Range Certificate (SRC) course — the internationally recognised qualification required to operate marine VHF radio equipment on commercial and recreational vessels.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Human Element Leadership and Management at Operational Level (HELM O) — the MCA-required leadership and management course for officers seeking certification at operational level.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Officer of the Watch and Master certification pathways at 200, 500 and 3000 GT — MCA-approved routes for professional seafarers working towards command qualifications on commercial and superyacht vessels.
Book on South West Maritime Academy →Prices and dates are indicative — confirm directly with South West Maritime Academy before booking.
A roadside hotel on the M5 motorway between junctions 13 and 14, offering 38 en-suite rooms with free WiFi and free on-site parking, about 3 miles from Cromhall.
View options →A 16th-century Tudor castle hotel set in 15 acres of grounds near Thornbury, offering luxurious rooms with four-poster beds and a three AA Rosette restaurant — the only Tudor castle in England operating as a hotel.
View options →Self-catering accommodation in recently refurbished 17th-century barns near Falfield, with fully equipped kitchens, free WiFi, and free parking — on the Avon Cycleway and close to Cromhall.
View options →Bristol Airport (BRS) is approximately 24 miles south-west of Cromhall. Taxi or private hire from Bristol Airport to Cromhall takes around 35–40 minutes and costs approximately £35–£55. No direct public transport link is available; the A38 and M5 provide the most direct road route.
Yate Railway Station is approximately 5–6 miles east of Cromhall, served by Great Western Railway (GWR) and CrossCountry. There is no taxi rank at Yate station — advance booking is essential via local firms such as Yate Cabs (0333 666 66 66). The journey from Bristol Temple Meads to Yate takes around 15 minutes on GWR services.
Cromhall is most easily reached via the M5 motorway (exit at Junction 14 for Falfield/Cromhall) or via the A38 from Bristol or Gloucester. The village sits in South Gloucestershire, roughly midway between Bristol (15 miles south) and Gloucester (25 miles north). Parking is generally available on-street or at local venues; there is no public car park in the village itself.
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