What are the biggest mistakes people make when visiting your country?
When people ask about the biggest mistakes visitors make in Australia, they probably expect me to talk about snakes, spiders, sharks or crocodiles. But that is not where my mind goes first. I worry about water.
I worry about it especially because I work with international students. Many arrive in Australia excited by the beaches. Of course they do. Australian beaches are beautiful. They are part of the national image. They look like freedom. But the sea is not a swimming pool.
Visitors often underestimate Australian water because it looks so inviting. They may be able to swim well in a pool. They may be young, fit and confident. But none of that means they can read Australian surf.
The dangerous thing about a beach is that it does not always look dangerous. The part that looks calmest can sometimes be the most dangerous. A rip can look like a quiet gap between the waves. To an inexperienced swimmer, it may appear to be the safest place to enter the water.
That is why my advice is simple.
Swim between the flags. The flags mark the safest part of the beach. They show where lifesavers are watching, where conditions have been assessed, and where help is close.
Never swim alone. Do not swim at unpatrolled beaches. Be especially careful early in the morning or late in the afternoon when there may be no lifesavers on duty.
And if someone is caught in a rip, do not become the second emergency. Call for trained help. Alert the lifesavers. Use a flotation device if one is available. Courage is not enough.
People are often nervous about sharks when they come to Australia. I understand that. Sharks are dramatic. They make headlines. But drowning is a far greater risk.
The real danger is often the water that looks harmless. It is fatigue after a long flight. It is the excitement of a first swim in Australia. It is assuming that because a place is beautiful, it is safe.
Australia is a wonderful country to visit. Its beaches are among the best in the world. But they have to be respected. So enjoy the beach. But swim between the flags.
The Afterword 
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