Limited Funds provide Limited Lifeguard Services. Over 98% of all Costa Rica beaches have no lifeguard services. And those that do, are threaten with lack of funding.
One of the questions I get asked all the time is, “How safe are Costa Rica’s beaches?” And having been a competition swimmer, driver, surfer, and former lifeguard in San Diego, my answer is three questions, “How good of a swimmer are you?” and “Can you spot a rip current and how to get out of one?”
Since about the early eighties when US surfers discovered the unreal wave action in Costa Rica, about the only people you saw in the ocean were surfers. Rarely would you see a Costa Rican swimming, at best it was wading ankle or the brave, waist deep in the ocean. Costa Ricans are smart; they know how dangerous their ocean can be. But even with that, a dangerous rip surge, even in waist deep water, can drag a body underwater and that is why, according the the Red Cross, there are about 120 recorded drownings a year. And only God-knows how many deaths occur from drownings that go unrecorded.
Costa Rica has some of the top beaches in the world. It wasn’t until the tourist boom in the late 1990s that got a few thinking, “Yeah, maybe we need to keep our beaches safe!”
Getting Caught in a Rip Current is the #1 cause of ocean drownings in Costa Rica
One of the hottest beaches is Dominical, and unfortunately it is also known as “Death Beach” for its notorious rip currents that had contributed to an average of 19 drowning deaths annually. Seeing the need for greater safety, town leaders and local organization, seven years back, and with raised donations, for the first time a lifeguard service was in place. However, lack of funding NOW threatens that service.
Another hot beach is Tamarindo’s (the Mecca of tourism) has been marred by a recent drownings including that of U.S. tourist Matt McParland, 42, whose fatal swimming accident in January may have been prevented, if their lifeguards had adequate life-saving equipment.
Unfortunately, Playa Tamarindo lifeguard services were terminated for a while. Fortunately, if it wasn’t for the aggressiveness of some their lifeguard service got in back in the swing of things, but very limited. Now, only a handful of trained lifeguards are keeping watch in separate towers according to the Guanacaste Tourism Chamber (CATURGUA), and that was only thanks to a fund-raising and awareness campaign by concerned Tamarindo residents. Organizations like the Surfrider Foundation and Una Mano Amiga (A Friendly Hand), Punta Dominical S.A., have contributed to keep the service operational. Tamarindo’s service cost about $5500 a month, not much considering!
Cocles Beach is the only lifeguard-protected beach on the Caribbean Coast, a coast line that receives a lot of big swells from tropical storms.
Costs Rica has over 800 miles of coast that is peppered with some of the best beaches in the world. Unfortunately, they are also some of the most dangerous currents and a powerful seaward pull causing deadly rip currents that can make even the best of swimmers have problems.
Lifeguards in Costa Rica are some of the lowest paid, if any at all. At some of the most populate beaches like Jaco, Tamarindo and Dominical they receive about $200 a month. It doesn’t seem right for someone whose prime responsibility is saving numerous lives a day and (the most important) give tourists a feeling of confidence.
Obviously those that lifeguard, don’t do it for the money, but do it for public service of warning swimmers of the rocks and strong currents and save them if necessary. Since Tamarindo reinstatement of their lifeguard service, there has only been one daytime drowning.
But due to lack of funds, places like Jaco, Tamarindo and Dominical lifeguard services are suspended during the slow season (also known as the raining season) which starts in April to September or October.
It also doesn’t seem right that the Costa Rica’s government, which promotes the country as one of the best “Tourist Destinations in the world” doesn’t fork out some money to help support these services when these places generated millions in revenue just in hotel tax.
In Jaco, which has the most lifeguards, developers and private business host major fundraisers that have provided money to pay for additional Tourist Police and sponsorship for training and certification of 50 lifeguards.
By and large most beaches in Costa Rica do not have full time lifeguards or any service, so if you are a novice to the water, be very very careful!
Hi, On Monday,Feb 27,2012, at Esterillos Oeste,My Girlfriend Eileen Arroyo and I were surprisingly caught in a rip tide and swept out to sea. We managed to hold hands in the turbulant waters, while being dragged far out to the deep waters. We had lost all hope of suvival. Eileen, not knowing how to swim, and me being totally exhausted of keeping her afloat. As we both KNEW that death was certain, an angel sent 2 surfers and an off-duty lifeguard who risked their own lives to save us, total strangers. They swam like dolphins and with unbelievable knowledge of the waters were able to save us. WE MUST GET IN TOUCH WITH THESE BRAVE SOULS THAT SAVED OUR LIVES !!!! Please help us contact them. All we have is a photo of them. One was a tall dark young man (the lifeguard, with an orange and yellow longboard) with rasta hair, the other a guy with long curly hair, and the third a skinny bronze guy (with a yellow shortboard). We need to send them some form of thanks.
Costarican government is more willing to help Casino industry at the beaches as a source of jobs in tourism than any other. It will not surprise me at all if some of these days they issue a decree declaring it as “of National Interest!”
A couple days ago, I was in Jaco. I think it is absolutely RIDICULOUS how underpaid these guys are… because I am a very good swimmer and I got caught in one of the rip currents, and almost drowned. One of those guys saved my life, and I will forever be greatful. I just can not believe they do those incredible acts, for such a low cost… because I almost died.
My name is Jeannine McParland. I am one of Matt McParland’s sisters. Yes, it was too bad that I had to lose my brother so suddenly because of the inadequate equipment. How irresponsible of the Costa Ricans! UNBELIEVABLE! Now his 3 small children have to grow up without a father! And by the way, as was stated in several articles I’ve read about the incident, Matt was 45 years old and not the reported 42 years old.
I am a 22 year old American (east coast). Finishing a TEFL certification class in Sámara, Costa Rica in March 2010. Unsure about teaching jobs, inquiring about lifeguard openings. I am First Aid, CPR, AED, and Ocean Rescue certified. Pool lifeguarded when I was young, moved to beaches when I was out of high school. 4 years of beach lifguarding in Ocean City, MD and Nags Head, North Carolina. Was averaging 30 rescues and 2 spinal injuries per summer In Ocean City. Collegiate swimmer (James Madison University – 47.3 100 yd. free). Moderte Spanish proficiency, like to surf and dont need much.
Dominical Lifeguards are on duty year-round, seven days a week, 8 to 5 pm. Donations of swim fins, red swim trunks, sun glasses, lifeguard flotation cans, and sunscreen are always appreciated. For monetary donations please visit the dominical lifeguard website.