Beach Patrol Times

Beaches are patrolled by professional Lifeguards 5 days a week as well as Surf Life Saving Club Volunteers on weekends and Public Holidays. Patrol times at patrolled beaches are as follows:

• September  till April (swimming season) 9.00am - 5.00pm (eastern Standard time)
• 9.00am to 6.00pm (daylight savings time)

Warriewood Beach is only patrolled by professional lifeguards during the months of December, January and February.  North Palm Beach and Bungan Beach are only patrolled by professional lifeguards during the Christmas school holidays. 

Tips

• Always swim or surf at places patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers
• Swim between the red and yellow flags. They mark the safer area for swimming
• Always swim under supervision
• Read and obey the signs
• If you are unsure of surf conditions, ask a lifeguard
• Don't swim directly after a meal
• Don't swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Never run or dive in the water. Even if you have checked. Water conditions can change.
• If you get into trouble in the water: stay calm, signal for help, float with a current or undertow, don't try and swim against a current or undertow, and wait for assistance

Know the Surf

Rips

A rip is a strong current of water running out to sea. Rips usually occur when a channel forms because of water rushing back out from the beach. Some signs to look out for are...

• A darker colour because the water is deeper.
• A smoother surface - generally with smaller waves.
• Debris floating on the surface of the water.  e.g. seaweed, foam, rubbish
• Watch this Rip Education Video from Science of the Surf

Stay calm

• If you are tired or not an experienced swimmer, float out with the current. When out past the breakers, swim parallel to the shore, then catch waves back to the shore. Or, raise one arm and wait for a lifesaver to rescue you.
• If you are a strong swimmer, swim across the rip and with the current. Don't try to swim against the current, you will just tire yourself.

Waves

• Surging waves may never break. They are usually found where the beach is very steep or on the edge of rocky shores.  They can knock you over and drag you into deep water.
• Spilling waves usually have less force and are the safest for body surfing.  They are usually found in sheltered bays where the sea floor slopes gradually, and near sandbanks at high tide.
• Plunging or dumping waves break suddenly and can throw you to the bottom with great force, and they can create strong drift currents.  They usually occur at low tide and where sandbanks are shallow.