South Coast Lifesaving president Steve Jones urges water users to check the weather and have the right safety equipment

Five rock fishermen died in the Illawarra in the last month, while earlier this week two female paddleboarders were luckily rescued after being washed kilometres out to sea off Currarong before they were recovered off Culburra Beach.

South Coast Branch Surf Lifesaving (NSW) president Steve Jones has urged all water users to "play it safe".

"It doesn't matter if you are swimming, rock fishing, boating and other water sport activities, have the appropriate safety equipment and check the current and evolving weather conditions," he said.

"Today, monitoring the weather conditions is easy. Almost everyone, especially young people, has a mobile phone.

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"There are a variety of Bureau of Meteorology related and other weather sites now available to be able to check the current weather conditions or upcoming forecasts. Importantly know what is coming up.

"If you wish to surf or want to go to a surf beach you can take full advantage of the Surf Lifesaving Australia Beach Safe App (available at beachsafe.org.au) which describes and provides a safety rating of all beaches around Australia and importantly NSW where we reside."

Mr Jones said wearing a lifejacket while undertaking water activities was essential.

"For more than 15-20 years the Department of Primary Industries who oversee NSW Fisheries, Maritime NSW, NSW Marine Rescue and Surf Lifesaving NSW have been heavily promoting the wearing of lifejackets for rock fishers around the coastline of Australia," Mr Jones said.

"It is also essential for recreational boating - we've had some tragedies in the last couple of years - off Wollongong and at the Moruya Bar where people have lost their lives.

"Sadly and unfortunately, in those circumstances boats have overturned and none of the occupants were wearing lifejackets.

"It is important people on a vessel wear lifejackets.

"Especially important if you are going recreational fishing and other water sport activities like paddleboarding, canoeing, etc that they have the appropriate safety equipment, especially lifejackets."

He said lifejackets nowadays come in a variety of designs so they are not an imposition to the actions of the individual.

"In boating in particular, it is always important to have the sufficient number of lifejackets for the number of people on the vessel," he said.

"And if a child is involved, ensure they have the right size lifejacket available.

"Too often we see boating incidents and there are only adult sized lifejackets, no correct sized children's devices."

He also urged anyone considering venturing to a remote beach to let someone know where they are going and what time they expect to return.

"If you're going to a remote beach and there is a lot in the South Coast, always let someone know where you are," he said.

"Have a plan - and if you are going alone and going swimming, which we don't recommend or encourage people to do anyway, tell someone where you are.

"And if things change and you go to a different beach let someone know.

"Everyone has a mobile phone nowadays, take your phone and if there's an emergency ring Triple 0.

"These are just simple practices people should be considering when they go near the water, either swimming, boating, rock fishing or other aquatic activities."

Mr Jones said a lot of incidents are involving people who migrated to Australia from other countries from around the world.

"In a number of incidents they have poor swimming skills, their knowledge of the English language is limited and there needs to be further awareness programs directed toward our multicultural communities, particularly targeting Western Sydney and Inner West Sydney where a lot of new Australians are residing," he said.

"There are a multitude of safety leaflets available focusing on swimming, boating and other activities in other languages and it is important people are aware.

"A number of various volunteer groups are doing their best to get the message out but our newer residents don't seem to be connecting."

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