Former ocean swimmer: Going with the flow is the art to water safety

Ocean swimmer Ruby Adsett knows a thing or two about navigating rough surf. Photo / File

Not enough opportunities for people to learn to swim is at the heart of the water safety problem, a former Cook Straight swimmer believes.

Now patron and life member of Ocean Beach Kiwi Surf Life Saving Club, Pat Benson, notes that "we don't seem to teach people to swim from an early age like we used to and that's a big problem".

"There's something fundamentally wrong at the bottom end that is creating the problem as adults. There are a lot of issues around swimming and getting availability to learn to swim.

"You've got to respect the sea as it is dangerous and there are a lot of things you don't see that is there below you."

Just this year alone, the Surf Life Saving Club has had about 15 rescues - although a large majority have been what they call "assists", where the lifeguards intervene before the situation escalates.

"With our experience, our guys know how to observe those situations. We have got a fantastic group of patrol guys and they are the unsung heroes.

"There does seem to be a lot of relatively new immigrants to New Zealand who are even less likely to have been exposed to the water like we are in New Zealand."

Not panicking and not resisting the rips are top tips he could give people.

"You need to learn with a rip to either go sideways or to let it take you out and let it do its business because rips don't go far out but by nature we all try and swim against a rip back into the shore and that's the hardest thing you can ever do."

He encourages people to not only learn to swim, but learn to swim to a good level.

"It is such a beautiful sport to have if you can swim and there's so much fun to be had in the sea, but it's incredibly dangerous if you are not a competent swimmer."

Ocean swimmer and Westshore Surf lifeguard Ruby Adsett shares the same sentiment.

"Keep an eye out for rips and strong currents and always make sure you are swimming between the flags."

The 17-year-old believes the best thing to do is not to swim against a rip, but rather let it take you out and then swim back into the shore, walk along the beach and find a safer spot.

"Will I be able to survive in here? Do I have enough swimming skills to be able to take on the waves or the current" is what needs to be running though people's heads before entering the sea, Ms Adsett commented.

"It doesn't take experience but it takes responsibility, definitely don't go swimming by yourself, and just use your commonsense."