Spring tide: do you know the risks when swimming and wading in the sea?

The National Sea Rescue Institute of South Africa (NSRI) warns the public on a regular basis  (before the event of spring tide, this is at full moon and at new moon) to be extremely cautious around the coast as spring tide causes stronger than normal rip currents around the coast.

Especially tourists, international as well as domestic, who usually don't know what rip currents are, or at least don't know how to recognize a rip current, or how to get out of a rip current, should not enter the sea with spring tide, and should be warned accordingly by touristic stakeholders along the coast.

Warnings should not be shown or published only during high season or after a drowning accident has occurred (as in "Warning after British tourists drown").

The article, titled spring tide rip currents warning, explains very clearly the impact of spring tide on rip currents. Therefore keep in mind:

Swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and obey the instructions of the lifeguards and only swim within the safe swimming zones lifeguards mark (using their red and yellow flags).

FYI: tide tables, including dates of full moon and new moon, are readily available. Just subscribe to http://windreport.co.za/page_tideemail.shtml (South Africa) and you receive the tide tables every two months in your mailbox.