One of the best things you can do regarding beach safety is learn to read the beach.
It’s a good idea before you go down onto the beach to pause on higher ground and study the beach formations like sand banks and inshore gutters and look for any water movement in or around them.
A common mistake novice beach goers make is thinking that the safest place to swim is the calmer water in the deeper holes between sandbanks, where very few if any waves are breaking.
These holes between sandbanks is where the water coming into the beach from swell or tide drains off the beach and heads back out to sea. This seaward movement of water is called a “rip”. Be aware that this water movement is enhanced by tides, particularly the bigger tides around new and full moon.
On the flooding or making tide, there is an increased volume of water pushing onto the beach and can often result in surges pushing further up the beach than usual and can knock kids off their feet and drag them into deep water.
On falling or ebbing tides, the volume of water draining off the beach is enhanced and therefore the movement in the inshore holes and gutters is greater and the rip action noticeably stronger.
The safest thing to do is always look for a patrolled area marked by red and yellow flags. You will find they are usually situated adjacent to sand banks with breaking waves and where the water is shallower than the deep holes between the banks.
Swim in those areas and you will have beach patrols watching you to make sure you are safe.
Be careful of swimming where there is an inshore gutter running parallel to the beach. These gutters are natural pathways for the water draining off the beach and usually have sideways movement or “sweep” working in them.
Most times this sweep runs into the deeper holes where the rips are working.
If you are not sure what you are looking at and understanding what is happening, you can always ask a lifeguard, they’ll be happy to show you.