Alright, Pam Anderson and David Hasselhoff, you’ve got your red swimsuits at the ready, and you’re about to give the whole beach a run for its money.
Maybe you’re still pumped from the new Top Gun movie and consider yourself a bit of a Maverick of the sea after finishing that fire game of volleyball.
Well, before you attempt that sweet slow-motion jet down the sand and into the crashing waves, we’ve got some safety tips for you to take on board.
You might have been swimming in the sea since you were a young whipper snapper, but you need to keep reminding yourself that the ocean cares about you as much as it does that sandcastle you spent four hours building.
Here’s a hint: It doesn’t care about that sandcastle you spent four hours building and it’ll wash it away in seconds.
BUT…if you equip your brain with a fortress of safety, you’ll be demanding those waves like Poseidon.
(Well, probably not Poseidon, but you catch our drift)
🦩 Flan Fact:
If you’re in dire straits and you’re not sure who to call – don’t call the ghostbusters, call the coastguard or other emergency services. Here’s exactly what you need to do in a coastal emergency, so keep this information saved somewhere safe!
1. Swim at lifeguarded coasts
The best bet for open water swimming, other than at one of our magnificent accredited venues, is to swim at lifeguarded coasts and stay within the safety zones. Yellow and red buoys usually signpost these.
Again, just because a lifeguard is on hand doesn’t mean you don’t still have to pay attention and be cautious. Remember to remain diligent in changing tides, floor depths and weather.
If the beach doesn’t have a lifeguard, we advise against swimming altogether. If you must, test the waters, ensure you are not alone and that all swimmers have competent swimming ability before entering.
2. Never go past the sign-posted buoys
And to be fair, avoid going near them at all. They aren’t a challenge you need to beat, and you’re not attempting to swim the English Channel, so stay well within your depths.
You’re probably too far out if you can’t touch the sand easily. Stay within sight of a lifeguard and don’t attempt to swim out to a further distance or away from other people.
All it takes is one destructive wave, and you’ll be saying bye-bye sandcastle, hello vast middle of the ocean.
The seagulls get somewhat peckish the further out you go too!
3. Never swim at night
We know you’re desperate to tick skinny dipping off your bucket list but getting in the nuddy and frolicking in the sea at night isn’t a wise choice.
We don’t want to be a killjoy, so if you really fancy a naked dip, do it during the day – it’ll certainly ensure people are looking out for you while you swim!
And we don’t want anyone to FEAR the open water, but it’s very reasonable to be cautious of vast, deep, and often dark bodies of water because you don’t know what that water has going on.
At night, the ocean is a dark cavern of often freezing and aggressive waves (we’ve all seen Jack’s speech in Titanic), you won’t be able to assess depths correctly, and there’s little to no visibility of the coast.
So, unless you’ve consumed an abnormal number of carrots*, we know your vision will be even more impaired than in the day.
Just don’t go swimming at night.
*and no, eating more carrots will not make you a better night time swimmer. Super healthy and one of your five a day, though, so deffo eat some anyway!
4. Do not swim under the influence
You might be repping up an epic mates’ trip in Ibiza; you’ve sunk a few cocktails and have the banging idea that swimming in the sea will keep your party flowing.
Listen up: If you’ve had one, two, three, or any number of cocktails, don’t go swimming. Please don’t do it under the influence of any alcohol, substance or medication that may alter your mental or physical state.
That bottle of beer might give you the confidence to swim like Michael Phelps, but it certainly won’t give you the ability.
Stay away from the water completely in these cases and opt for a sun lounger instead.
Today’s Coastal Swimming Lesson:
So let’s recap what we’ve just read…
- Make sure a lifeguard can see you at all time
- Don’t try to impress anyone or attempt to swim your own version of the English Channel – you’re not David Walliams
- Wear the right gear and swim during the day when people are about
- If you’ve had a few bevvies, don’t bother getting in at all
If you decide to swim somewhere that is not accredited or doesn’t have the correct facilities and supervision, you must be aware of your risks.
The tips we have provided are just that, tips. There are oodles of things to consider, so always keep yourself educated and up to date with the latest safety tips.
Our Beyond Swim Pass, Blog, and social media will help you do just that!
Take another dip and “Check Out That Incredible Body…of Lake Water’s Safety Tips.”