But they can still pose a danger to those who cannot swim, warn experts
Shuli Sudderuddin , Teo Wan Gek, Straits Times 31 May 09;
If you cannot swim, do not swim, especially when it comes to the open sea.
That is the advice of experts in the wake of a drowning at Changi.
Last Sunday, a 20-year-old Chinese national drowned in the sea off Changi Beach. He was with three colleagues and in chest-deep water just off the shore when he went under. He could not swim.
The drowning was the latest in a spate of three incidents.
On May 19, a 35-year-old man drowned while fishing in Jurong Lake. He was apparently fishing illegally on the banks. He drowned when he tried to swim across a 20m stretch of water to escape a police patrol.
On May 22 , a canoe instructor, also 35, is believed to have drowned while coaching students at MacRitchie Reservoir. It is not known how he fell into the water.
Experts said that Singapore's beaches are relatively safe, except for non-swimmers. The currents are not very strong.
Associate Professor Wong Poh Poh from the department of geography at the National University of Singapore said: 'East Coast, Pasir Ris, Changi, Sentosa are all safe except for non-swimmers. For a non-swimmer, even safe and shallow water would be dangerous.'
Added Mr Justin Lee, who runs Water Cross, a water sports business at Pasir Ris Beach: 'We swim to our boats at sea sometimes, and it's as calm as a swimming pool. There's usually no fast-flowing current, even at East Coast Park. The most dangerous areas are those in open water, beyond the bay areas.'
Veteran lifeguard and MP Teo Ho Pin said that Singapore's beaches do not drop as steeply as other beaches, such as in Malaysia where the drop can be as deep as 2m.
He added: 'In Bali, even when you are knee-deep in the water, you can get dragged out by the currents.'
However, currents do flow more strongly at places like the tip of the Changi spit, a narrow length of land stretching out from Changi beach, where boats move constantly in and out of the estuary and the beach is steep.
Mr Singa Kutty, 40, a mortuary worker who swims regularly at Changi Beach, noted that the currents can get quite strong during high tide and can sweep a person away.
'For non-swimmers, it's very dangerous. About 20 steps into the sea, the seabed drops very suddenly. It's a very steep incline.'
There were five cases of 'water rescues' from the sea in 2006, 12 in 2007 and eight last year, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force. 'Water rescues' include those who drowned or were rescued.
Mr Lim Wee Kok, executive secretary of the Singapore Dragon Boat Association, said it does not conduct dragon boat activities off beaches as there are greater risks given the unpredictable waves and wind. Instead, activities are carried out in places like reservoirs or the Singapore River.
Other sports bodies, such as the Singapore Sailing Federation which go out to sea, said participants must wear life vests.
Mr Tan Lii Chong, honorary secretary general of the Singapore Life Saving Society, said that while Singapore's beaches are considerably safer compared to other countries' beaches that face the ocean, more can be done to ensure safety.
He noted that volunteer lifeguards from the Singapore Life Guard Corp man the East Coast and Changi beaches on Sundays and public holidays at certain times. However, most of the island's public beaches are not manned by professional full-time lifeguards.
The society urged the authorities to consider deploying full-time lifeguards and installing rescue equipment.
The National Parks Board said that life buoys are placed along beach parks, and signs have been erected to warn the public of the potential dangers in the water.
A spokesman added: 'It is also important for swimmers to exercise self-responsibility in gauging their own ability to swim in open waters.'
Student Niguel Angelo, 14, who swims at Pasir Ris beach regularly, noted that at high tide, 'the current can push you over even when you are standing'.
'I think more should be done. I see only one life buoy and warning signs are many metres apart,' he said.
