No birds were fed or inconvenienced during their photographing for this web site.
In the oceanic waters out to sea of some beaches are strong (out tow) tidal currents (rips). If swimming beware of these strong oceanic underwater outflow currents. These should be avoided by swim in shallow waters close to the shore.
Ultra violet radiation from the sun can burn your skin and eyes. Don't be burnt by the sun's rays. Do not allow children to get sun burnt. The simplest way to avoid Summer sun burn is to avoid beach going during midday hours. Instead go to the beach in the early morning or late afternoon. It is still possible to get sun burnt in cloudy (over cast) weather. Be aware of this. Skin can be burn by the sun's rays after 20 minutes of exposure. Just wearing a hat is not covering enough. Eyes and skin can be burnt by the sun's rays. Protect yourself. If you must go to a beach during the noon hours wear sun glasses (100% UV shielding glasses) shirts, hats and naturally occurring sunblocker (sunscreen). Don't depend upon sunblock (sunscreen) ointments entirely either. Some can cause allergies and make eczema worsen. Others aren't all that effective. You won't need a hat, shirt and sunscreen if you're on the beach at an hour in which the sun is not. For example in the hottest Summer weeks in Victoria, I go to the beach at 7:45pm in the evening. About 2hrs day light remain and the burning sun is not a problem or concern at that hour. Sun burn can cause ill health. If you've the symptoms of dermatitis or eczema don't be burnt by the sun light. Simply be on the beach in the early morning or very late afternoon.
Beware of lightening storms whilst you're on a beach. If you can see a lightening storm front blowing towards you , along the horizon, leave the beach before it strikes. I was on a beach in Victoria in the midst of a lightening storm that struck and killed a near by beach goer. I was lucky it wasn't me. I shouldn't have been ignorant enough to have been walking such a tightrope to begin with. It knocked me out of my complacency of lightening eye storms. Don't be on the beach when such a weather front hits. Lightening can kill. Don't sail too near the wind, if you see lightening rise and closing in; leave the beach. Persisting on a beach in the midst of a lightening storm is not hard-hat, it is breakneck. Be warned !
Some sea creatures of the deep can be very dangerous. Please do check with local people and do seek local knowledge of potentially deadly wildlife and sea-creatures before you walk along some beaches, rivers or water holes.
Octopuses have the most crafty,
sly and 'smoking screening' dispositions of all invertebrate animals. Be
warned. They can lurk camouflaged in shallow rock pools and some ooze
paralysing venom like the lethally poisonous blue ringed octopus
which should never be touched. Stay away from venomous octopuses.
Seek local knowledge and check with local people before swimming in some
beaches and rivers. Be aware some jelly fishes can sting. Seek local
knowledge and check with local people before swimming in some beaches and
rivers. Keep away from walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) and polar
bears (Ursus maritimus). They can be deadly, lethally fierce and
both are very able swimmers (polar bears can swim 80 km in a day) ! So
it's not as simple as swimming away from them either. Be warned !
Seek local knowledge and check with local people. Be aware of (order:
crocodilia) crocodiles and alligators. These deadly ferocious reptiles
kill with their razor-sharp teeth. Check with local people and seek local
knowledge before walking along or swimming in some beaches, rivers and
water holes. Be aware of deadly sharks (with in the class: chondrichtyes).
Particularly great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Some sharks
hunt in shallow as well as deep waters. A 2000 kg (4500 lb) great white
shark can swallow an unwary swimmer whole. Be warned. Seek local
knowledge and check with local people.
Finally; Biodanger:
Keep away from sewage drain outlets, algal blooms and creeks contaminated
with either sewage or patches of toxic (blue-green/red) algae.[7]
Failure to adhere to this biodanger algae/sewage alert could cause your
DEATH.