Laguna Beach ocean safety

Lifeguards at Laguna Beach

The city’s Marine Safety Department says its lifeguards watch the visitors, boardwalk and ocean every day of the year, along seven and a half miles of coast. It reports that it protects more than six million beach visitors and that the United States Lifesaving Association recognizes it as an Advanced Agency.

The city also says plainly that not every beach has a lifeguard at all times. It advises swimming near a lifeguard and with a buddy. Marine Safety cites United States Lifesaving Association statistics over ten years showing the chance of drowning at a beach without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great. For current conditions, call Marine Safety at (949) 497-0310.

Under the municipal code, no one may disobey a lifeguard or climb, hang from or sit on a lifeguard tower.

Flags and signs

Marine Safety says lifeguards may fly flags to advise of hazards and rules that change from time to time, and asks visitors to read the signs when they arrive. The municipal code names one flag: a yellow flag displaying a black ball goes up at or near an area where surfing is prohibited. The code also lets Marine Safety, the police chief and the city manager close the water to swimming and surfing in storms, crowded conditions or other hazards, and it requires people to leave the water when ordered.

Rip currents

NOAA describes rip currents as powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that can reach about eight feet per second. If you are caught, NOAA says, do not fight it: swim parallel to the shore, then angle back toward land. Marine Safety’s advice matches: most rip currents are narrow, and a short swim parallel to shore brings you out of them.

The National Weather Service says rip currents often form on calm, sunny days. It advises swimming only at a beach with lifeguards, checking conditions and talking to the lifeguard before going in. The service links local beach forecasts for rip current conditions.

Shorebreak, rips and rocks at named beaches

The city’s own beach pages describe conditions at two beaches this page names:

• Crescent Bay. The city calls the surf a strong shorebreak, says numerous rip currents can be present depending on conditions and says the cove can be a dangerous place to enter the water. See Crescent Bay.
• Main Beach. The city says the surf can be large and dangerous, with numerous rip currents and heavy shorebreak waves. See Main Beach.

The Mountain Road and Sleepy Hollow pages summarize what the city says about rip currents at those beaches. Marine Safety adds that the rocks along the coast are dangerous: lifeguards answer emergency calls on weekends from people hurt on them, and waves have swept people off their feet. Swimmers and kayakers may not go onto Seal Rock off Crescent Bay.

Tide pools

The city says low tide is the best time for tide pooling, so consult a tide chart before you come, and suggests waterproof shoes because the rocks can be sharp. The National Weather Service warns never to turn your back on the ocean. See tide pools.

Summer swimming and surfing areas

The municipal code treats the water within 200 yards of shore as swimming and surfing areas. From June 15 to September 15 it designates surfing areas near Brooks Street, between St. Ann’s Drive and Thalia Street, at Victor Hugo’s Point to Jasmine Street and at Agate Street, where surfing is allowed during set hours and swimming is excluded. At Aliso Beach it sets a surfing zone from noon to 6 p.m. The city notes that surfing is not permitted on Main Beach in summer. Read the posted signs and flags, and see the surfing page for beaches where surfing is allowed.

Stingrays

California State Parks says stingrays sting only out of defense and tells beachgoers to shuffle their feet as they walk instead of lifting them, so rays scatter. For a sting, it recommends soaking the area in hot, fresh water and getting medical attention, especially for a deep wound, bleeding that does not stop, signs of infection or an allergic reaction.

Before you go

Marine Safety’s surf page links a Main Beach webcam, surf reports for Brooks Street and Rockpile beaches, a surf forecast tide chart and real-time weather. The city says the Orange County Health Care Agency monitors water quality at Orange County beaches, including Laguna Beach. For the full list of beach rules, see beach rules.