Bermuda Beach Safety

Bermuda Beach Safety

Bermuda is quite safe when it comes to swimming or snorkeling from the beaches. I have rarely seen any serious beach incident in Bermuda that has ruined the vacation of a tourist.

Having said that, there do exist some risks on the Bermuda beaches. With the right level of knowledge and proper measures, you can avoid such risks spoiling your party.

Here are some of the Bermuda beach and ocean dangers that one should be aware of and take appropriate beach safety measures.

Beach Warnings

Lifeguards are on duty from 10am to 6pm in most of the public Bermuda beaches during the summer months. A white flag on the lifeguard tower indicates that a lifeguard is on duty. There are also beach warning flags that are put up. A yellow flag indicates that the water conditions are questionable and you should ask a lifeguard before getting into the water. A red flag means water condition is unsafe and you should stay away from it.

Portuguese Man of War

So what are Portuguese Men of War? Sounds strange? Actually these unique jellyfish like marine creatures do exist in Bermuda waters and sometimes you find them on the shores as well.

Portuguese Man of War has a purple-blue colored bladder that floats above the water surface. Since they look somewhat like the old Portuguese war ships, the 17th century sailors gave them such a name.

Portuguese Man of War

So what is the risk?

Below the bladder, they have polyps from which hang a number of long tentacles. These can be as long as 150 feet (some 50 meters). But usually the 30 feet tentacles are more common. And the stings from these tentacles can be really painful. And more importantly, they inject venom which although in most cases not fatal, can cause serious problems at times.

In some rare incidences, particularly if one has heart problems, the sting can become deadly. Depending on the quantity of the poison released, the symptoms can be different.

I have heard that the toxicity or potency of the sting is almost 70% of that of a cobra venom.

However, the good news is that Portuguese Men of War are only occasionally seen. They are mostly visible during spring or early summer, particularly when a storm would have swept them towards the shore. In general they like to be in the mid sea and use their stings to kill fishes or other marine creatures.

So in all probability, you will never see them. But just in case you do, here is what you should do immediately:

Symptoms and safety measures against Portuguese Man of War

Firstly if you happen to see them, don't even try to go near them. As I said, they have long tentacles and can easily reach you faster than what you may think.

Sometimes on the beach, they might look to be dead. But they are not. So stay away.

An average sting will cause immediate pain and then itching. Remove the tentacles with a stick or by gloved hand. Rinse the wound area with salted water and apply some ice.

If itching persists, apply 1% hydrocortisone ointment 4 times a day, and 1-2 25 mg diphen-hydramine every 6 hours.

For serious problems like chest pain or breathing difficulty, you should not wait and immediately call for proper medical treatment.

Rip Currents in Bermuda Waters

Rip current can be dangerous and sometimes life threatening for the swimmers. If you know what to do in case you are caught in a rip current, you have all the chances of saving yourself.

So what is Rip Current? It occurs due to a water buildup in the shore. Due to strong winds and high waves, the water is pushed into the shoreline where it sometimes starts accumulating.

And after a point, it tries to go back to the ocean ripping through a narrow channel of the sand and creating this dangerous current.

If one falls into this current, one would be swept out towards the sea. But unlike undertows, the swimmer will not be pulled down under the water.

So what should a swimmer do if caught in Rip Current?

A common mistake is to swim against the current and back towards the shore. It's very difficult if not impossible to do this. The best thing to do is to float along the direction of the current or go parallel to the shore till the current dissipates. Remember, the current flows through a narrow channel, so by swimming along the shore one can come out of the channel.

Once out of the influence of rip current, one should swim diagonally back towards the shore.

Sharks in Bermuda waters?

Don't panic. While there are sharks in Bermuda waters, they are generally harmless and almost never come close to the beach. I have not heard of a single shark related incidence in Bermuda in the recent years. The last one had taken place many years back and that too was a minor incidence. Check out Bermuda Sharks to know all about sharks in Bermuda.

Theft at the Bermuda Beaches

Well, just like many other places on the earth, if you leave your valuables unattended on a beach, you might not find them again. So, is beach theft common in Bermuda? I won't say common, but they do occur.

I would recommend not to leave your camera or wallet unattended as you go for the plunge even if the beach looks deserted. Either go in turn and hand it over to someone in your group, or put all your stuff into a waterproof plastic bag and keep it with you.

Skincare at Bermuda Beaches

Click Beach Skincare to get skincare tips to protect your own and children's skin from sun damages at the Bermuda beaches.

Check out Bermuda Health & Safety to understand all other areas of risks in Bermuda and the recommended mitigation measures.

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