Water safety
Rip currents, beach flags, good habits and the numbers to know. Read before your first session on the Atlantic coast.
Baïnes and rip currents
A baïne is a trough in the sand, parallel to the beach, that fills on the rising tide. As it empties, the water flows back out to sea through a narrow channel: the rip current. It can carry a swimmer or surfer dozens of metres out in seconds.
Rips are strongest around mid falling tide, with medium to big swell and large tidal coefficients.
The rip current in one diagram
Seen from above, beach at the bottom, open sea at the top. A rip does not pull you under: it carries you away from the shore.
- Waves break on both sides: that is where the water comes back towards the beach.
- The channel: few waves break there, the water looks darker or smoother.
- The current flows out through this channel, often faster than a strong swimmer.
- The way out: swim parallel to the beach to leave the channel, then come back to shore with the waves.
Spotting it from the beach
- A calm patch between two areas of breaking waves: often a trap, not a shelter.
- Darker (deeper) water, or a sandy plume heading away from the shore.
- Foam, seaweed or debris moving out to sea.
Caught in one: three reflexes
- Do not fight the current: float and save your strength (on your board if you have it).
- Swim parallel to the beach, then head back to shore using the waves.
- Signal: raise an arm and call out. From the beach, do not jump in: alert the lifeguards or call 196 (or 112).
Guidance rephrased from the prevention advice of these organisations; their pages are the reference: SNSM · Préfecture maritime de l'Atlantique · Ministère des Sports
Caught in a current: what to do
- Don't swim against the current: it is stronger than you.
- Keep your board, it floats: stay on it and breathe calmly.
- Let it carry you, then head back by paddling parallel to the beach, towards where waves are breaking.
- Raise an arm and call for help if you are in trouble.
Beach flags
- Green: Lifeguarded bathing, no apparent danger.
- Yellow: Lifeguarded bathing, limited or marked danger.
- Red: Bathing prohibited.
- Purple: Water pollution or dangerous marine life.
- Red and yellow: Marks the lifeguarded bathing zone during lifeguard hours.
- Black and white chequered: Zone for surfing and water sports: swimming there is at your own risk.
Good habits
- Watch the spot for ten minutes before paddling out: sets, currents, where the water foams less (often a channel).
- Don't surf alone, and tell someone where you are going.
- Respect the surf zone and swimmers.
- Stay within your level: Isobath shows it for each window, but the ocean decides.
- Check Météo-France's "waves-flooding" warning before a big swell.
Emergency numbers
- 196: Emergency at sea (CROSS), free, 24/7: rescue of a person in the water.
- 112: European emergency number, from any phone.
- 15: SAMU (medical emergency).
- 18: Fire brigade.
Isobath gives model estimates. Lifeguards, flags and your own observations always come first.