Introducing ASI SUP Instructor Stevie Boyle

We speak with Stevie about his journey into adventure education, his role as an ASI SUP Instructor, and the profound impact this career has had on his life.

What is your background?

I’m currently living and working in Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland, where I get to combine my passion for the outdoors with my work every day.

Adventure education has been my life for over 25 years—it's the only career I've ever known.

Most of my time is spent in a wetsuit either in the sea, loch or canyon.  My mother said I could climb out of my cot before I could walk!

During my youth, traditional classroom education failed to capture my interest, and I quickly realized it wasn't the path for me. Pursuing a career in adventure education transformed my life in the best way possible.

I love working outside in the mountains or on the water.

Every day is different and the environments I work in are dynamic and diverse. The people I meet and the things I see always amaze and inspire me to do more outdoors.

As well holding ASI SUP Instructor qualifications, Stevie is a coasteering guide and trainer and national coasteering charter rep for the east coast of Scotland. He is also a winter Mountain Leader and Instructor, Mountain Bike Leader and Rock Climbing Instructor (SPA).

What got you involved in the sport?

I have been paddle boarding since 2010 and  paddled over the UK, USA and Europe, learning about the sport and enjoying its evolution and rapid growth.

I primarily started to SUP because the surf on Scotland’s East Coast can be unpredictable. We can go weeks without rideable waves, and SUP gave me an extra 100 potential days on the water each year.

It was a game-changer for my time in the ocean, and I’ve never looked back.

Why did you become an ASI instructor?

ASI sets the highest standards in the industry, and their course content is incredibly robust—truly the best in the world. Becoming an ASI instructor was a natural step for me because I wanted to align myself with the highest level of coaching and safety practices. 

I have been using SUP as part of education programs since 2012, after gaining my ASI SUP Instructor qualifications.  

ASI offers great career pathways. I have achieved other SUP instructor certifications including ASI SUP Technical Coach, Level 3 SUP Surfing Instructor and Level 3 SUP Downwind Instructor.  

I am also an ASI SUP Instructor trainer, and train others to be SUP Instructors.  I often travel to other locations in they UK and around the world to deliver SUP Instructor training courses. 

What are you doing now?

Since the winter of 2018–19, I’ve owned and operated Ocean Vertical, an adventure company, based at Dunbar, East Lothian, and offering a wide range of activities, including SUP, surfing, mountaineering, coasteering, and expeditions.

We even run regular trips to Nepal, combining adventure with travel and exploration.

What do you like about being an instructor?

I love sharing the incredible places we work with different people, introducing them to the unique wildlife, and giving them a completely different perspective from the water. Paddleboarding allows you to experience the ocean in such a peaceful and immersive way.

More than anything, my career in outdoor and adventure education has been about coaching and developing people. Helping others build their skills, confidence, and connection to nature is what inspires me to show up every day.

Tell us about a funny, interesting, or memorable moment from instructing.

One of the things I never get tired of is seeing dolphins while paddleboarding. We’re lucky enough to encounter them regularly, but every single time, I feel the same excitement as I did the very first time.

Sharing that moment with others—especially those seeing dolphins in the wild for the first time—is truly magical. The impact it has on people, their joy and amazement, makes it just as special for me as it is for them.

It’s these moments that make my job so rewarding.

About ASI

ASI is a global leader in training and accrediting instructors, coaches, and schools for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, and bodyboarding.  ASI instructors and schools ensure world-class training, safety and operational standards. Whether you're learning for personal enjoyment or to establish a career in the industry, ASI opens the door to new skills, global opportunities, and adventure.