Save Ogunquit Ocean Rescue

LOBSTER POINT CURRENT: Picture of the Lobster point current at low tide. This is a dangerous area as the water depth near this natural jeti drops off significantly to as much as 20 feet or more near the rocks. You can see the current in between the jeti and sandbar as darker turbulent water heading into the picture. Even strong swimmers who get close to this drop off and current can easily be pulled away from the sandbar and into deeper water. Children are particular vulnerable as the drop off extends almost all the way to dry land along the jeti.

RIP CURRENTS: Rip currents can develop anywhere with wave action and/or onshore winds pushing water towards shore where it then may flow back to sea within a relatively narrow path creating a strong current. At Ogunquit beach rip currents may also develop absent those conditions due to long shore currents to and from the tidal river in conjunction with sandbars and sand channels under water. If you feel at risk please try to remain calm, let the current take you, and wave to a lifeguard for help. If you are far from a lifeguard wait to determine the direction you are moving and swim perpendicular to that motion until you are free from the current. Whatever you do, do not waste energy fighting the current. Rip currents may be diagonal to or even parallel to the beach, so it is imperative that you determine its direction of motion before attempting to swim out of it.

UNDERTOW: What locals often refer to as the undertow is a feature caused by the return flow of water from wave action breaking close to shore. This is different than a rip current and generally occurs with moderate to large surf. The water from breaking waves can pull individuals back out to sea into the surf zone and in some instances 'under' breaking waves headed toward shore. Any force that continues past the surf zone is more likely to be a rip current. You should avoid going into the ocean at all costs when waves are big enough to cause this condition. If you get caught, however, try to wave for help if possible and time your breaths with the wave action to avoid swallowing water. If you are an able swimmer getting pulled out into deeper water it may even be advantageous to dive under the waves and further out past the break zone until help arrives.

OFFSHORE WINDS: On the handful of days we experience strong offshore winds, we ask that patrons do not use floats, boogie boards, noodles, or stand up paddle boards that are easily carried out to sea. If you lose a beach ball or float do not attempt to go after it once it enters deep water as the chances for retrieval are low and you may end up a victim.

THE PUDDLE: Ariel view of 'the Puddle', back in the 1950's. The puddle is a potentially dangerous feature at the main beach that changes in length, width, and depth each season. Unsuspecting bathers who venture onto the sandbar (bottom of picture) along a shallow path to the south (left) may find the water depth change from ankle deep to over head once they attempt to return to shore further to the north (right) . The depth of the puddle generally increases as you head north and varies throughout the summer. Incoming tides can also change the water depth substantially before bathers realize it. Bathers are usually drawn to the sandbar to catch breaking waves.

RIVER: Historically one of the more dangerous areas of Ogunquit beach, the tidal river changes in depth somewhere between 6 feet and 13 feet within a six hour period depending on the cycle of the moon. Astronomical extreme tides produce 11-13 foot differences in 6 hours about six days each month. When lifeguards are on duty during an outgoing tide we ask patrons to exit the river, usually with a guard posted at the exit point, well before it empties into the ocean to the right out of screen. This period of supervision is usually from 1 hour after high tide until 2 hours before low tides. Like other areas, water depth varies dramatically in location and time especially as the river approaches the open ocean. Please do not take the current and shallow water depth in certain areas for granted.

RIVER-HIGH TIDE: During an incoming tide, there is the added danger of a strong deep water eddy off the southwest end of River beach and the potential for entanglement under the beach street bridge. We advise patrons to avoid swimming or floating underneath the bridge in particular. There is no lifeguard coverage to the north of the beach street bridge (bridge seen top of picture looking North).

RIVERMOUTH: Where the river meets the ocean. During an outgoing tide one can quickly find themselves hundreds of yards from shore and in deep water. We have a lifeguard station near the lighthouse as a last line of defense for this area, lobster point, and the large expanse between the main beach and Ontio beach.

BRIDGE JUMPING: Please keep in mind that many visitors to Ogunquit are unaware of tidal differences particularly the drastic ones we experience. Someone observing you jump off the bridge at high tide may attempt to do the same at mid or even low tide leading to adverse results. It is not easy to judge changes in water depth if you are not from the area. This is why bridge jumping is prohibited. Serious injuries and even death have occurred in the past.