Safer surfing advice

Activities such as windsurfing and bodyboarding can be fun, but you can end up in the water a lot when you do them so you absolutely have to be a strong swimmer. Swimming in the sea is a lot more demanding than swimming in a pool, due to the effects of the waves and currents. If you have never swum in the sea before, it is advisable that you acclimatise yourself to the waves by practicing on a supervised surf beach, where help is immediately at hand if you get into any difficulty, and there are not going to be any rip tides. Surfing of any kind is difficult to start off with, and can be very dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, so be sure to get some lessons from a qualified instructor before you set out on your own.

Whether you are a surfing novice or a skilled professional, the same safety rules apply:

Never go out onto the waves with a board that is damaged in any way, and be sure to look it over thoroughly for tiny cracks and signs of strain, which could develop into dangerous fissures in the water.

Never surf solo. Always bring a surf buddy, even if they are just going to sit on the beach and look out for you.

Stay within the zone demarcated by the flags. For surfboarders and windsurfers, these are black and white, and for bodyboarders, these are red and yellow.

Whatever you do, hang on to your board when you're in the water, as it will at least keep you afloat if you hang on to it.

Don't ignore lifeguard instructions, or it might cost you your life.

Wear your leash at all times, as it could save your life.

Nearly half of all the rescues made by lifeguards in recent years were related to surfing of one kind or another. In spite of this, many surf shops stock items that have the potential to be dangerous in all but the most experienced hands. So if you are thinking about buying surf equipment, make sure that it is suitable for a surfer of your level of ability and experience, and be realistic about this, as it is your own safety that is at stake.

Rip tides

Rips, commonly referred to as rip tides, are currents that are so strong that they can drag swimmers from the shallows out to deeper waters without much warning. It's best to avoid these for obvious reasons, and the coast guard should be able to show you where they are and how best to avoid them.

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