Beaches can generally be described as being one of five basic types. This section describes these beach types and the characteristic hazards associated with each.
Beaches can change to a different type as seasons change. A reflective beach in summer could be a bar and rip beach in winter. Changing weather, tides and wave conditions can also mean that a beach changes from one type to another within a few hours. Correctly identifying beach types can help the lifesaver to assess the hazards that may be encountered on a particular beach, the relative safety of the beach and the actions that may be needed to protect beachgoers at any given time.