Beach Safety

At Visit Newquay we want you to enjoy every minute of your time spent here with us, but we also want to make sure that you stay safe. So we’ve decided to give you some useful tips whilst you're at the beach so that you can have fun but also stay incident-free. The sea can be deceptive, even on what appears to be the calmest of days there can be undercurrents and rip currents.

1. Go to a Lifeguarded Beach

When you’re heading to one of our beaches, we urge you to respect the water and visit a lifeguarded beach. On a lifeguarded beach there are trained professionals to help keep you safe – they’ll be on hand if something goes wrong, in or out of the water. 

We’ve provided a list of our lifeguarded beaches to make sure you and your family have a safe and fun trip to the coast:

Cornwall Council list the dates and times when RNLI Lifeguards are on Cornwall's beaches. CLICK HERE

2. Look Out for the Signs and Flags

So now you’re ready to hit the beach there are a few important things to remember, whether lifeguards are on duty or not.

When you arrive at the beach the first thing you might see is a sign giving you all the information about the beach you’re visiting. This includes important safety info on the hazards specific to the area. 

• Red and white prohibition sign - do not enter the water at any time. Swimming and other water-related activities are not permitted.

If the beach you’re at is not lifeguarded, please take extra care if you are going into the water. If lifeguards are on patrol, then you’ll need to know your flags:

• Red and yellow flags - lifeguarded area. Safest area to swim, bodyboard and use inflatables.
• Black and white chequered flags - For surfboards, stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and other non-powered craft. Launch and recovery area for kitesurfers and windsurfers. Never swim or bodyboard here.
• Red flag - Danger! Never go in the water under any circumstances when the red flag is flying.
• Orange - Indicates offshore or strong wind conditions. Never use inflatables when the windsock is flying.

3. Understand the Sea

• Rip currents - Rips are strong currents running out to sea, which can quickly take you from the shallows out of your depth. These can be in what can appear to be the flattest of seas. Always note the flags and listen out for the lifeguard information on their tannoys.
• Tides - A beach can seem like a vast playground but the tide can come in surprisingly quickly. Getting cut off by the tide contributes to a significant number of RNLI rescues every year. Tide heights vary so can go further up the beach each time.  
• Waves - Waves are great fun, but they can be dangerous. They have different characteristics depending on the beach and conditions - understanding how they work will keep you safer. Again listen to the Lifeguards or even speak to them for advice on the best area at that time. It's amazing the force of water that is a wave, or even just a nearly flat sea. This can even vary if the tide is coming in or out. A child can easily be swept off their feet in less than 15cm (6 inches) of flowing water, and an adult less than 30cm (12 inches)
• Cold water shock - Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement. Average UK and Ireland sea temperatures are just 12°C. 

4. Inflatables

Inflatables such as blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the ocean where they can easily be swept out to sea far from the beach. Rip tides, swells, wind - even gentle breezes - can push then them far from the shore in seconds. We therefore strongly advise against using inflatables in the sea. 

We would rarely consider their use in anything but calm, rip tide-free waters but even these can be difficult to judge. The sea behaves differently along the length of a single beach due to the landscape. We would very much recommend asking a lifeguard for advice if you do choose to use them.

5. Surfing and Bodyboarding 

Surfing and bodyboarding are fun for all the family, but every year lifeguards rescue thousands of people who get caught out. If you are new to surfing it can be worth considering a lesson with one of the many surf schools Newquay has to offer. The most important advice is to always stay with your board as it will keep you above the water, even if you feel you are drifting out to sea. Your board will keep you afloat and make it much easier to spot if our lifeguards need to rescue you. Here’s a bit more information about the kit you should have and a few rules of the road…

• Boards - When selecting a board you need to consider your height, weight and ability. When starting out, a soft foam board is ideal as it is thick and wide, making it easier to float, paddle and catch waves.
• Leash - Always wear one, normally around the wrist or bicep, so you don't lose your board if you fall off!
• Wax - Apply this to the deck of your board to give you grip.
• Fins - These are vital when bodyboarding to help you catch waves and swim against strong currents.

ALWAYS:

• Follow the advice of the lifeguards
• Wear your leash so you don’t lose your board
• Check your equipment for damage before use
• Bodyboard between red and yellow flags
• Consider other water users.

NEVER:

• Ditch your board − it will keep you afloat in an emergency and make you easier to find
• Go alone
• Get on the water in conditions above your capability.

6. How to Call for Help

• If you get into difficulty it’s tempting to try and swim to safety but you should always stay with your kit as it will keep you afloat and make you easier to find in an emergency.
• A whistle is a simple and effective method of calling for help when close to shore. When venturing further offshore carry a suitable means of calling for help, such as a waterproof and fully charged VHF or flares.
• Don’t forget the international distress signal of hand waving and shouting for help.

7. Wetsuits

The waters around the UK and Ireland can be very cold, even on a warm summer’s day. A wetsuit will keep you warm and comfortable, allowing your body to perform more efficiently.

Wetsuits are generally made from neoprene and are designed to maintain your body’s core temperature and protect you from the elements.

They work by letting a small amount of water in, holding it next to your body, which then heats up from the natural energy produced during exercise. For this reason, it’s vital to choose a well-fitted suit to avoid being flushed with cold water. Remember a wetsuit is usually worn with the zip at the back!

Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimetres of neoprene: the thicker the suit the more insulation. As a general rule in the UK and Ireland most people use full suits, which means long arms and long legs:

• 5:3 = winter suit approx November–March (5mm neoprene core, 3mm limbs)
• 4:3 = spring suit approx April–October (4mm neoprene core, 3mm limbs)
• 3:2 = summer suit approx June−September (3mm neoprene core, 2mm limbs)

8. Sun Safety

Sunburn can ruin your holiday and increase the risk of skin cancer in later life. According to our friends at the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity Skcin, we experience over half our lifetime’s exposure to the sun before we reach the age of 21.

So please, keep safe this Summer and follow the five Ss of sun safety:

1. Sunscreen – slap on SPF 30+ broad-spectrum waterproof sunscreen every 2 hours
2. Sun hat – wear a broad-brimmed hat that shades your face, neck and ears
3. Sunglasses – use wrap-around sunglasses with UV protection to shield your eyes
4. Shoulders – slip on a T-shirt or UV protective suit for children and remember to keep your shoulders covered
5. Shade – seek shade, particularly during the hottest time of the day between 11am and 3pm when UV penetration is at its strongest.

9. Newquay Harbour Safety

Newquay harbour is a historic, picturesque working harbour and provides a good spot to launch a boat, jetski kayak or board. There are a few simple rules to follow that will make the experience not only enjoyable but safe as well.  

Boats and Jet Skis

• Before launching a boat, report to the harbour master to check that it is ok to launch
• Check the weather, it may look ok but there may be strong winds coming, be aware of the wind direction, is it offshore?
• Check the tides – there is a big tidal difference at Newquay, avoid launching and recovering at or near low water
• Check the boat
• Engine serviced with sufficient fuel
• All equipment working
• Safety equipment – you should have, as a minimum;
• lifejackets for everyone going on the boat
• a compass on the boat
• the killcord fitted properly
• a means of calling for help – mobile phone as a minimum, but ideally a VHF radio
• a means of attracting attention such as flares
• When entering or leaving the harbour;
• Keep to starboard
• Keep speed below 4 knots
• Keep a lookout for other boats, swimmers, borders and kayakers
• Tell someone ashore where you are going and when you expect to be back

Kayaks and boards

• Check the weather, it may look ok but there may be strong winds coming, be aware of the wind direction, is it offshore?
• Check the tide, could you be carried offshore?
• Safety equipment
• Wear a buoyancy aid
• For boards, ensure the leash is properly attached
• Whilst in the harbour and the approaches, keep a look out for boats and other watercraft – it’s not always possible for the helmsman on a boat to see people in the water or on boards, especially when they are going astern
• Keep to starboard when leaving or entering the harbour
• Do not paddle under the stern of a boat, even if it is stationary
• Tell someone ashore where you are going and when you expect to be back

All of these are basic guidelines; comprehensive advice can be found either on the RNLI website or on the RYA website.

Last updated 17/01/24