Sea swimming safety in Brighton & Hove

Local tides and weather conditions

Always check the weather forecast and the sea conditions before swimming, including the tide times.

The main currents in the sea off of Brighton & Hove are lateral are lateral. They'll take you either east or west depending on the tide movement.

Always swim parallel to the shore and stay in your depth.  Currents can sometimes feel like they're pulling you along and out to sea. Stay calm and swim diagonally across to the nearest point on the beach.

Check the tide times and have awareness of spring tides, this is when tides are the strongest with the highest high tides and the lowest low tides. The currents are extremely strong on spring tides which will make for a harder swim.

Tide times in Brighton & Hove

You can check tide times for the week ahead at VisitBrighton.

You can also download a tide timetable online, or buy one at our Seafront Office.

Brighton & Hove’s coastline has winds that come from multiple directions which can cause dangerous wave conditions on the shoreline.

It's best not to swim at high tides when strong onshore winds are in force as it may be difficult to enter and leave the water. Brighton & Hove also has a severe shore-dump which is the first wave hitting the beach. This wave is extremely powerful and demands respect from swimmers.

Large crashing waves place emergency services’s lives at risk and make it impossible to reach those in need.

Northerly winds, also called offshore winds, flatten the water but can create the danger of being swept out to sea.

Heavy rain can result in water run off from the roads. We recommend you wait at least 48 hours before swimming after heavy rain.

Lifeguards

Lifeguard season, when the RNLI Lifeguards will be on the city's beaches, runs from the end of May until the first weekend in September.

You should always swim between the red and yellow flags when lifeguards are patrolling.

There is no beach lifeguard service on our beaches outside the lifeguard season.

Find out more about lifeguards on our beaches.

What to do in an emergency

Phone 999 and ask for the coastguard if you see anyone in danger or attempting to enter the water in dangerous sea conditions.

The Seafront Office has direct links to the coastguard and can respond immediately.

You can also notify your nearest Lifeguard if they're on patrol.

Things to remember when sea swimming

Sea swimming has many great benefits, however it does come with some risks. Whether you're new to open water swimming or a regular sea swimmer, it's always important to consider your abilities and your health.

It's important to:

think about where you can enter and exit the water and whether there are hazards you need to bear in mind
let people know where you intend to swim, and/or arrange to swim with a buddy or group
have the right equipment:
- wear a wet-suit for warmth as it will increase your buoyancy and reduce the risk of cold-water shock
- wear a brightly coloured swim hat and use a tow float so you are visible
- change into dry clothes and hat and bring a hot drink and in winter a hot water bottle
- use booties or suitable footwear to avoid the dangers of the steep shingle beaches and to avoid cuts and falls
remember that cold water can impact on your swimming ability, and even on a clear sunny day, your body temperature can drop quickly - read more from the RNLI on how to acclimatise to cold water

Risks of sea swimming

Swimming near, and jumping off, piers and groynes

You should avoid swimming near piers and groynes as they have fixed currents that can be very dangerous and difficult to negotiate.

Pier and groyne jumping is extremely dangerous. You should never jump off any structure directly into the sea as you can never be sure how deep the water is or if there are submerged objects below. Even if you feel like you know the risks, jumping can also encourage copycat incidents - where others who may know less about the conditions, tides and sea depths will jump and cause accidents.

Alcohol

It's never safe to go into the sea after drinking alcohol, even a small amount speeds up the onset of hypothermia in cold water. Drinking also reduces your capabilities. You may also think you're a better swimmer than your true ability and take unnecessary risks. This can risk the lives of others.

Pre-existing medical conditions

Anyone with a pre-existing medical condition or taking medication runs additional risks by subjecting their body to a sudden drop of temperature by entering the sea.

Talk to a healthcare professional about sea swimming and any possible risks.

Further information on sea swimming

You can visit the RNLI website for more guidance on: