Lifeguards

Apply to be a lifeguard, where lifeguards will be on duty this year and how to make sure you swim safely in the sea.

Become a lifeguard

Brighton keeps it's visitors and residents safe throughout the summer months with their lifeguard service. 

This year the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) will manage the beach lifeguard service on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council.

If you have experience as a beach lifeguard, or have plans to achieve your lifeguarding qualification this year, you could apply to become an RNLI lifeguard.

2025 season dates

Main Season: 24 May to 7 Sep

Peak Season: 19 Jul to 7 Sep

You'd also need to attend an induction before the season starts. Options and dates for induction can be discussed during the interview.

If you have any queries about working as a lifeguard, please contact ChichesterSC@rnli.org.uk.

Lifeguard service 2025

RNLI lifeguards will be on duty on the following beaches from Saturday 24 May 2025.

Patrols and posts

You can find the lifeguard stations at:

Our lifeguards will be on duty from Saturday 19 July to Sunday 7 September 2025 on the following beaches for the school summer holidays:

The RNLI provides information on how to stay safe along the coast and in the water.

Lifeguard courses and training      

Find beach lifeguard courses on the links below:

Brighton Seafront Office has previously run courses.   

Send an email to seafrontoffice@brighton-hove.gov.uk for information on future courses.
 
The Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club is a great place to learn all about sea safety, as well as surf and fitness skills. They do 'nippers club' events to help children learn how to stay safe at the seaside.

You can also go to the Hove Surf Life Saving Club or the Saltdean Life Saving Club.

Lifeguard responsibilities

Lifeguards protect people who use the sea and Brighton & Hove beaches.

Lifeguards also help with:

  • first aid
  • finding lost children
  • tourist information
  • enforcing by-laws

Swimming zones and what the flags and buoys mean

Red and yellow flags on the beach show the swim areas. Swim between these flags if you wish to be supervised by lifeguards.

The red flag means lifeguards strongly advise against swimming due to dangerous conditions or water quality issues. Please stay clear of the water and ask a lifeguard if you need more advice.

The orange wind-sock means the wind is blowing offshore, and could send you out to sea rapidly. Please do not use inflatables when you see the orange wind-sock.

The chequered flag in Hove, west of the King Alfred indicates the zone for Kite-Surfers and Wind-Surfers. These users must launch between these flags and stay clear of the swim area.

Boat lane buoys are cylindrical, yellow and say Boat Lane on top. They indicate where boats and vessels may go in and out. On the beach, there are yellow poles that line up with the boat buoys to indicate the lane.

See more information on seafront bylaws.

Swim buoys are located in the water in a box formation to define the swim zone. They are circular, yellow and say 'swim area'.

At an average high tide the:

  • nearest buoy is 150 metres out
  • most southerly buoy 200 metres out

Stand-up paddle-boards and kayaks are allowed in the swim area.

The following vessels are not allowed to enter the swim area:

  • motorboats
  • sailboats
  • wind-surfers
  • kite-surfers
  • jet-skis

See more details on boating by-laws.

In the summer months, the lifeguard service uses its patrol boat. This enforces the sea by-laws and keeps the bathing zone clear for swimming only. Please speak to the lifeguard on duty if there is an issue.