Sea guides

Tides, rip currents, lifeguards and how the sea changes through the year.

Start here

Safe sea swimming: the complete guide

9 min read

Sea

Why the UK sea is coldest in spring and warmest in late summer and early autumn, why it trails the air, and why it's cold water most of the year.

8 Oct 2026 5 min read

Sea

Could you swim against the tide if you had to? Why even a yes calls for caution, and how to plan a sea swim around the tide.

13 Aug 2026 5 min read

Sea

High and low water, springs and neaps, chart datum, and what a tide table can't tell you. How to read one before a sea swim in the UK.

9 Jul 2026 6 min read

Sea

What rip currents are, where they form, how to spot one from the beach, and the RNLI's advice on what to do if one takes you.

28 May 2026 5 min read