The sea looks dark and mysterious at night, constantly crashing and rolling up the beach. The moon floating on water and the glimpse of a dolphin fin might beguile you into thinking that you would love to have a midnight dip in the sea. Is it safe and responsible to have a nightly swim in the ocean?
It is not safe to swim at night at the beach. Poor visibility reduces the chances of seeing hazards and judging distances and depths accurately. There are no lifeguard patrols to help if you get into trouble in the water. Oceanic predators are more active, and criminals may lurk at night.
Holidaymakers want to take advantage of their time at the beach. They think nothing could go wrong if they swim after dark. People that live by the sea may become so used to it; they are inured to the potential dangers of swimming at night. Safety should always be a priority, and accidents can happen in the blink of any eye – especially at night.
Reduced Visibility Makes Night Swimming Dangerous
Humans do not have good night vision. Our eyes are not adapted to see easily in the dark, and it is difficult for us to spot hazards. There are many potential threats at the beach which we could stumble into at night.
Before we even get in the water, there are washed-up jellyfish, ocean debris, and other obstacles to negotiate. You may not see protruding rocks or tangles of seaweed in the sea.
Looking out over the sea and deciding where to enter the water is not as easy at night. You may miss the evidence of a rip current or how the waves move. You can make a fatal error and get into trouble in the sea.
It is difficult to judge how the waves are breaking at night because of poor visibility. Shore breaks occur when a deep swell of water breaks directly onto the shore. These are sometimes known as dumpers.
They cause spinal and head injuries in unlucky swimmers that get caught up in them. If you are caught in a dumper and injured at night, you could die out in the sea as there are no other people around to help you.
Many people who swim at night do not realize how far out they swim because their distance judgment is impaired in the dark. Suddenly they find themselves far from shore and too tired to swim back.
There Are No Lifeguards At Night To Help
Lifeguard stations are unmanned at night. This means that if you get into trouble while swimming in the sea at night, there is no one to help you. You may be a good swimmer, but the ocean can be treacherous, and one miscalculation is all too easy to make when you cannot see properly.
Each lifeguard team saves thousands of lives every year when people use the beaches during the day. They are a necessary safety precaution on beaches, and swimming without a lifeguard present is risky.
Oceanic Predators Are More Active At Night
Sharks are more active between dusk and dawn. The bull shark has been found to prefer hunting in the dark early morning hours. The chances of encountering a shark are heightened when people swim in the sea at night.
Many sharks hunt close to the shore at night. Night swimmers do not easily spot them due to limited visibility. Tiger sharks, Zambeezi or bull sharks, and great white sharks are the three sharks implicated in most fatal attacks. They are sharks that are not shy about coming in close to the beach.
Stingrays are nocturnal, hunting for prey at night. At night, people swimming in the ocean may accidentally cross paths with a stingray – the outcome is not usually pleasant.
Jellyfish floating in the sea are difficult to spot at night, and if you have a nightly dip, you may find yourself on the stinging end of all those tentacles.
Alcohol Use Is Often Associated With Night Swimming
Alcohol use is associated with risk-taking behavior. People who have drunk alcohol and then decide to swim at night are more prone to a dangerous and sometimes fatal accident in the water. It is never advisable to swim in the ocean after drinking alcohol.
Criminal Elements Make The Most Of Beaches At Night
When you are alone in an isolated public place at night, you are at risk of criminals taking advantage of you. You may lose your wallet, belongings, or car if the criminals decide to target you. Unfortunately, sometimes their intentions are more sinister, and your life may be in danger.
Fishing Vessels May Pose A Risk To Night Swimmers
Fishing vessels often go out at dusk and come in at various times during the night. If you swim near a launching or mooring point at night, you could put yourself in danger.
It is unlikely that the skipper will see you swimming in the ocean, and he certainly won’t expect to be looking out for swimmers. Swimmers that are hit by boat propellers suffer severe lacerations and head and neck injuries that could be fatal.
Night Storms Are Dangerous For Swimmers
In some climatic regions of the world, it is more common for thunderstorms to occur at night. Swimming in the sea during lightning and thunder is extremely dangerous. Water is a good conductor of electricity, and as a result, lightning often strikes the ocean.
During storms, the waves get bigger and stronger as the wind acts on the water’s surface. You could quickly find yourself facing down enormous waves, which could overwhelm you with ease.
Conclusion
It is not safe or wise to swim in the ocean at night. Poor visibility, night predators, lack of lifeguards, and isolation on the beach mean there is a high possibility of getting into trouble. There is no one present to help if you have an accident or are in danger. It is better to take a swim in a swimming pool than be tempted by the lure of the ocean at night.
References
- https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/discover-fish/sharks/how-to-avoid-shark-attacks/
- https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190808-why-do-sharks-attack-humans
- https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/november-2019/World-first-findings-pinpoint-where-and-when-sharks-are-more-likely-to-attack
- https://survivalfreedom.com/is-it-safe-to-swim-in-the-ocean-at-night-7-dangers-to-avoid/
