Water Safety

Surf Safety

• If unsure about the conditions ask someone.
• Always surf with other people.
• If you see someone in trouble in the water, get help quickly.

If you are in trouble in the water:

• Stay calm.
• Wave one arm for help.
• Float on your back – this will be easy because your wetsuit will keep you afloat.

Rips
A rip is a strong current running out to sea. Rips are the cause of most rescues performed at beaches. A rip usually occurs when a channel forms between the shore and a sandbar, and large waves have built up water which then returns to sea, causing a drag effect. The larger the surf, the stronger the rip.

Look out for:

• Murky brown water caused by sand stirred up off the bottom.
• A calm rippled surface, generally with smaller waves than elsewhere.
  Foam floating on the surface out to sea.
• A darker colour because the water is deeper

Escaping from a Rip:

• Don't Panic - stay calm and conserve your energy.
• If you are a strong swimmer, swim at a 45 degree angle across the rip and in the same direction as the current until you reach the breaking wave zone, then return to shore.
• If you are a weak or tired swimmer, float with the current, don't fight it.
• Raise your arm so others can see it.
• Swim parallel to the shore for about 30 - 40m until you reach the breaking wave zone, then swim back to shore or signal for help.
• Remember – your wetsuit and surfboard are excellent flotation devices.

In the surf:

• Stay with everyone else.
• If a wave breaks in front of you and you are standing up, push your surfboard over or through the wave nose first.
• If catching a wave make sure no one is in front of you.
• If paddling out and a wave breaks in front of you hold onto your board.
• If someone is already on the wave – let them have it.
• If you are hung over or feeling sick, don’t go out.
• If you wipe out – cover your head with your arms. The biggest danger in the surf is being hit on the head and drowning.
• Enjoy yourself.

Out the surf:

• Please refrain from riding your surfboard onto the sand.
• Leave your surfboard flat on the ground with the fins up and not standing up against a wall or your car.
• Wash your wetsuit in fresh water and hang it out to dry away from direct sunlight.

SLSA
Aust Govt Surf Safety Program
Victorian Govt Watersafety Program
National Parks Conservation Program
Royal Surf Lifesaving Society of Australia
QLD Dept of Primary Industries and Fisheries

Sharks - The facts

• Not all sharks are dangerous with nearly all fatal attacks in coastal waters being attributed to just three species -
  Bullsharks, Tiger Sharks and White Pointer Sharks.
• On average, only one person in all of Australia is taken by sharks each year.
• The chances of
  being attacked by a shark are small but if you want zero chance of being attacked don’t go in the water.
• Most fun things have some risk and it’s ultimately up to you.
• Remember, a shark is just a big fish with anger management issues.

Minimising the risk of shark attack:

• Don’t surf alone.
• Never surf when bleeding.
• Don’t surf near schools of fish or where fishermen are catching lots of fish.
• Don’t pee in your wetsuit.
• Never swim at dawn or at dusk.
• Don’t wear contrasting colours or flashing objects.

If you see a shark:

• Tell everyone else in the water.
• Stay calm, as sudden movements may attract a shark.
• Lie down on your board and leave the water as quickly as possible without panicking or splashing.
• Tell anyone on the beach that may be thinking of going out.
• If possible, tell a committee member.

If bitten by a shark:

• Don’t panic – at least you’re alive.
• Get to shore as soon as possible.
• Get medical help as soon as possible.
• Tell people what has happened.
• If bleeding badly, apply a tourniquet eg: your legrope.

Surf Spot Descriptions

Mid-South Coast (descriptions)
http://www.surfsouthoz.com/content.php?cat=guide&id=29

South-Coast (descriptions)
http://www.surfsouthoz.com/content.php?cat=guide&id=30

How to find it:
http://www.street-directory.com.au/sd_new/mapsearch.cgi
Go to this address and:
Click in the middle of South Australia
In the suburb box type the proper name of the spot (not the nickname)
In the state box type “SA”
Enter

You can then use the Zoom In, Zoom Out and Pan to find your way around.