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Sea Safety

Jersey is the warmest place in the British Isles and is a great for swimming, surfing, boogie boarding and windsurfing.

It also has one of the biggest tidal ranges in the world and this can create some impressive rip currents and hazardous conditions.

Child Information
Adult Information
When going to the beach look out for the lifeguards. They look for the safest places for you to swim and mark those places with flags.

Do you know what the flags mean?

Always swim between the two red and yellow flags flying on the beach.  The lifeguard has decided this is the safest place to swim and will be looking out for you. No surfing is allowed in this area.

If a red flag is flying it means the water is dangerous.  Do not enter as strong currents could pull you out to sea.

A black and white squared flag is not used in Jersey, but you may see it on holiday in England.  It means it is a surfing area.

Do you know which Jersey beaches have lifeguard cover?  

So, are you ready to go to the beach now? Have you got everything you need? Have you told an adult where you are going?

Even if there are lifeguards around, you still need to check out the water conditions before you or your children go in. That includes looking out for big surf and rip currents.

Not all of Jersey’s beaches have lifeguard cover.

So, even if there are lifeguards around, you still need to check out the water conditions before you or your children go in.  That includes looking out for big surf and rip currents.

So, what’s a rip current?

Rip currents are currents of water moving away from shore. The strongest rip currents can reach speeds up to 8 feet per second; this is faster than an Olympic swimmer can sprint!

If caught in a rip current:

  • Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
  • Never fight against the current. Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
  • Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline.
  • When out of the current, swim at an angle–away from the current–towards shore.
  • If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
  • If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by raising your arm and shouting for help.

Beach Top Tips

  1. Watch your children – don’t let them swim alone.
  2. Teach your children to swim.
  3. Swim in designated areas – between the red and yellow flags.
  4. Check the water conditions.
  5. If your kids boogieboard get them fins and a leash.
  6. Protect your children’s skin – use suncream SPF 30 plus, limit sun esposure between 11 & 3.
  7. Obey the flags, warning signs and lifeguards

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