Being an island country the beach is everywhere! While we encourage you to spend a bit of time lazing about on the Australia’s beautiful beaches, there are a few things you should know before jumping in the water. 

The number one thing to remember is: Always Swim Between the Flags! Beach flags are set up to indicate where lifesavers are patrolling. In Australia you should NEVER swim at an unpatrolled beach, and always swim where the lifesavers can see you.

Swimming in Australia is safe as long as you take the necessary precautions and are aware of what is going on around you.

• NEVER swim at night.
• NEVER swim after consuming alcohol.
• NEVER run and dive into the water.
• NEVER swim directly after eating a meal.

Rips:

Rips are a common thing in Australia, that you may not be familiar with from home. A rip is a very strong current flowing out to sea. These are the cause of most rescues by lifesavers at the beach. Rips can be very dangerous if you are not familiar with them and do not know how to react.

What to do if caught in a rip:

• Stay calm and conserve your energy
• Signal to a lifesaver by raising your arm
• If you are a strong swimmer: swim at a 45 degree angle across the rip in the same direction as the current until you reach the wave break zone. When you reach the break you will be able to swim to shore.
• If you are not a strong swimmer, or if you are tired: float with the current, swim parallel to the shore for 30-40m until you reach the wave break and then you will be able to head to shore. 

If you are not very familiar with the ocean, here are a few tips to remember:

• Talk with a lifesaver before entering the water. They will be able to tell you where it is best to swim and can also keep an extra eye on you if you are nervous about entering the water, or if this is your first time in the ocean.
• Pick a landmark when entering the water, the current will often push you down the beach without you realising it so it is a good idea to know where you entered the water from.
• Do NOT fight the waves. If a wave is coming you have two options, you can jump over it before it breaks or dive beneath it (best to do before the break). When diving under a wave keep your body as flat as possible, you will be able to feel when the wave has passed and then can head for the surface.