Poole's beaches are gentle, which is exactly why people get caught out by the parts that are not.
Swim between the flags
Red and yellow flags mark the lifeguarded area. Black and white chequered marks the craft zone. A red flag means do not enter the water. RNLI lifeguards patrol the main beaches through the season.
The harbour entrance
This is the one that matters. The gap between Sandbanks and Studland drains and fills a 36-square-kilometre harbour twice a day, and the tide runs hard through it. The chain ferry crosses it constantly. Do not swim across it, and keep paddleboards and kayaks well clear.
Offshore wind and inflatables
A breeze blowing off the land will carry an inflatable, a paddleboard or a dinghy out faster than you can swim back. It is the single most common cause of rescues on this coast.
In an emergency
Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If someone is in trouble, do not go in after them: raise the alarm and throw something that floats.
See the beaches guide and the harbour guide.