What You Need to Know Before Swimming in the Ocean

Millions of people around the world enjoy swimming in the ocean, a warm-weather activity that never gets old. While there is nothing quite as refreshing as soaking in salt water and playing in the waves on a hot day, there are a few things you need to consider before diving in.

Factors like the weather, the tide situation, potential sea creatures, whether a lifeguard is on duty and your experience level in the water are all critical aspects of ocean safety. Keep reading for six things you need to know before swimming in the ocean to maximize your fun and minimize your risk.

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What’s the weather like?

This may seem like an innocuous question, but checking this off your list before heading to the beach and swimming in the ocean can save you from a number of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) top concerns for swimmers. NOAA recommends checking the official surf zone forecast before heading to the beach to ensure that water conditions are safe, as well as checking the incoming weather warnings to make sure there won’t be any storms while you’re swimming.

Lightning hitting the water—or anywhere on the beach—is a huge concern for NOAA, and lightning storms make NOAA’s list of the top 10 dangers at the beach. Tsunamis and thunderstorms are also major concerns.

Natural disasters and extreme weather aside, it’s also important to be prepared for excessive heat and sun exposure by using plenty of sunscreen and staying hydrated.

What type of wildlife are you dealing with?

Depending on which beach you’re heading to, the answer to that question can be very different. If you’re on your way to Florida or the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll want to be wary of stingrays and avoid being stung by practicing the stingray shuffle (shuffling your feet along the bottom of the ocean so any nearby stingrays will feel the vibrations and have a chance to scoot before you step on them). If you’re in the South Pacific, you’ll want to brush up on your coral reef and sea cucumber knowledge.

At the end of the day, you aren’t the only creature enjoying the beach, and doing a bit of research into the others you’ll be sharing the waves with can keep you and your family safe.

How do you survive a rip current?

Tatiana Gordievskaia/Shutterstock

It’s important to know how to survive a rip current—both how to spot one and how to help someone in danger. Rip currents are far more common than people realize, so they aren’t always on the lookout. While rip currents can form in all water types, they are definitely prevalent in the ocean, and you should brush up on your knowledge of them before heading out into the waves.

Where are the lifeguards?

NOAA recommends only swimming at beaches that have lifeguards and, barring that, reminds swimmers never to swim without anyone else present. Before you dip your toes in the water, find the nearest lifeguard stand and be ready to alert them and call for help at the first sign of trouble.

What do all the different flags mean?

If you’ve been to a public beach, you’ve seen the colorful flags. No, they aren’t there to look festive; they’re meant for your safety. But if you don’t know what they mean, how do they help you? Sure, you can probably guess that green means “go” and red means “danger,” but what about purple? (That would be the presence of marine pests, crucially not including sharks—a shark sighting calls for a red flag.)

Brush up on your flag knowledge before you go, especially if you’re headed to a foreign country, where the exact flags and signs may be different than you’re used to.

Can you swim?

Okay, this one seems obvious, but officials at NOAA have good reason for asking this question before you dive into ocean fun. Swimming in the ocean, or even the Great Lakes and the Gulf of Mexico, isn’t like swimming in your local pool. The waves are stronger and unpredictable, and wind can cause currents to change at a moment’s notice. You need to make sure you are a strong swimmer before entering any ocean water.

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