Water safety rules
If you swim in Northern Cyprus, pay attention to the flags on the beach and avoid stormy seas. Do not enter the water after consuming alcohol, watch your children, and do not swim beyond the buoys. If you suspect a rip current, do not try to swim directly to shore: swim parallel to the shore to exit the current. If you need help, call: rescue service — 112, coast guard — 158.
- Pay attention to the flags
- Avoid unfamiliar places
- Do not swim after alcohol
- Watch your children
- Do not swim during storms
- Do not swim beyond the buoys
- Do not swim during hot hours
- Deal with cramps
- Avoid rip currents
- How to help a drowning person
- Rescue service contacts
- Frequently Asked Questions
With the arrival of summer in Northern Cyprus, reports of water accidents regularly appear. Below are short and practical rules that help reduce risks at sea: from beach flags to how to act during a rip current.
Pay attention to the flags
Official beaches usually have flags. A red flag means swimming is prohibited. Swim with caution under a red-yellow or yellow flag. A green flag indicates conditions are considered safe.
Avoid unfamiliar places
It is safer to swim at official beaches with lifeguards and marked problem zones for water entry (red flags, barriers). Swimming in deserted areas increases risk: there may be no one nearby to call for help quickly.
Do not swim after alcohol
Alcohol reduces coordination and the ability to assess strength and conditions clearly. This increases the risk of cramps, hypothermia, and panic during unexpected waves or currents.
Watch your children
Even calm water can be dangerous for a child due to lack of experience and quick panic. Keep children within control and do not allow them to swim alone, even in moderate waves.
Do not swim during storms
In strong waves, it is better to avoid swimming. Incoming waves during a storm can be irregular and unpredictable, and even experienced swimmers sometimes misjudge their strength.
Do not swim beyond the buoys
Outside the designated zone, rescue is harder, currents may be stronger, and watercraft (boats, jet skis, kite surfers) often move in these areas and may not notice swimmers.
Do not swim during hot hours
Between approximately 12:00 and 16:00, the sun is usually particularly strong in Northern Cyprus. During this time, the risk of overheating and heatstroke is higher. A sudden temperature change (hot air and cooler water) can also be dangerous for people with cardiovascular problems.
Deal with cramps
A cramp severely restricts movement in the water. If a muscle cramps, try to stay afloat, massage or press the muscle if possible, then move slowly toward shore. If you experience frequent cramps, swim closer to shore and avoid swimming alone.
Avoid rip currents
A rip current is a water flow that pulls you away from the shore into the sea. It often forms in "channels" where water returns after waves. If you feel yourself being carried away and not approaching shore, follow the plan below. You can read more about rip currents in our special article.
Do not panic and do not swim directly to shore
Instinctively, you may want to swim straight to shore, but in a rip current, this often leads to rapid exhaustion. It is important to conserve breath and energy while staying afloat.
Swim parallel to the shore
Swim along the shore to exit the "channel" of the current. When you feel the pull weaken, change direction and swim diagonally toward shore.
Conserve your energy
Do not "fight" the current head-on. The goal is first to get out of the current, then return to shore. If lifeguards are nearby, signal with your hand and call for help.
How to help a drowning person
If you see someone drowning, first attract the attention of lifeguards and ask someone on shore to call the rescue service. If you are confident you can help faster, approach the person cautiously: a drowning person may instinctively grab and pull you down.
Try to approach from behind and keep the person’s head above water. If possible, use any floating objects (inflatable ring, board, rescue buoy) to reduce your risk and speed up the rescue.
Northern Cyprus Rescue Service Contacts
These rules help reduce risks in the water but do not replace common sense: assess conditions, swim at official beaches, and exit the water if you feel tired or unwell.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which beach flags indicate warnings?
Red — swimming prohibited. Yellow or red-yellow — swim with caution. Green — conditions are considered safe.
What to do if I am carried away from shore?
Do not try to swim directly to shore with force. Conserve your breath, swim parallel to shore, exit the current, and then return diagonally. If lifeguards are nearby, signal and call for help.
Can I swim alone on wild beaches?
The risk is higher: there may be no people or lifeguards nearby. It is safer to choose official beaches and avoid swimming alone.
Who to call in case of a water accident?
In Northern Cyprus, use 112 (rescue service) and 158 (coast guard).
Author
I am a person who is not afraid to change life when my heart tells me that something greater lies ahead. I am originally from Belarus. I have journeyed from pedagogical and economic education to the financial sector and many years of work in logistics — a world where everything moves, changes,…