Here are some guidelines to swimming safely under the watchful eye of the lifeguards.
After a long walk on fine sand, you decide to lay out your towels so that the little ones can build things in the sand and enjoy a paddle. What a lovely idea! Beaches on the seaside resorts in the Boulonnais with lifeguards are easy to identify.
Swimming areas and flags
Beaches along the Côte d'Opale are famous and popular for their sheer vastness. Here are some guidelines to swimming safely under the watchful eye of the lifeguards.
After a long walk on fine sand, you decide to lay out your towels so that the little ones can build things in the sand and enjoy a paddle. What a lovely idea! Beaches on the seaside resorts in the Boulonnais with lifeguards are easy to identify.
Yellow buoys
Start by looking for the yellow buoys! These are round in shape and mark swimming areas supervised by a lifeguard station, as well as those exclusively reserved for swimming. Apart from supervision by professionals, you can enjoy swimming without coming across a kayak or catamaran in your path. Or even worse still - an inflatable boat with a knee-high captain ready to take on the role of Jack Sparrow...
Rectangular- and triangular-shaped yellow buoys are intended to indicate to kayaks, windsurfers or other boats the appropriate channel for launching.
Flags
Before rushing headlong into the water, wet your neck and above all take a good look at the flags! Known as ‘flammes’ or ‘pavillons’, their colours tell you much like a traffic light whether or not you are allowed to do a few strokes, depending on the level of danger. A red flag means swimming is not allowed. But you can be sure that is only the half of it - the tides will be sweeping in with the wind and big clouds... An orange flag means be careful! Swimming will be supervised, but remains dangerous. A green flag means that the sea is calm and it's time to have some fun and splash anyone being overcautious! You should also be aware that there is a purple flag. This is to indicate polluted water and swimming is therefore not allowed. These precautions are regularly carried out to guarantee the safety of all.
Unguarded beaches
If you decide to go to an unguarded beach, be careful of the tides. Tides can transform the coastal landscape and every year foolhardy people become trapped. Finally, so that the day ends well, remember to use sun cream, take a hat or cap and keep hydrated. Enjoy your swimming!
