Safety

Read this before you paddle out.

The North Sea is cold, powerful and changes quickly. The information on this site is a general guide based on typical conditions. It is not a forecast and it can't tell you whether it's safe to surf today.

• Check conditions on the day, and look at the water before you go in. Forecasts for this coast are often off by a foot or two either way.
• Know your level. Spots marked Expert are shallow, heavy or hard to get in and out of. Don't learn there.
• Rip currents form along most of these beaches, especially near piers, rocks, headlands and river mouths, and get stronger as the swell grows. If you're caught in one, don't fight it: stay on your board, paddle parallel to the shore, and raise a hand to signal for help.
• Tides can cut off beaches and reefs below cliffs. Know the tide times, and know how you're getting back.
• Water quality can drop after heavy rain, especially near towns and river mouths. Check bathing water information and sewage overflow alerts before you go.
• Lifeguards cover some beaches in the summer season only. Check which beaches are patrolled and when.
• Winter water temperatures fall to around 6–8°C. A 5/4 or 6/5 wetsuit with boots, gloves and a hood is standard from late autumn to spring.
• In an emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

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