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Welcome!

These pages from RNLI Wells' Water Safety Officer offer advice and tips to stay safe and make the most of your visit to our part of the coast, whether you are on on the beach, walking the coast path or out on the water swimming, kayinging or sailing. There's videos, podcasts and some useful posters and documents.

We now have separate pages for Wells, Blakeney and Morston and Burnham Overy Staithe... though lots of the advice applies in all the North Norfolk harbours and beaches and along the coast in Norfolk or elsewhere too.

Wells Water Safety Map

Sea Safety Map for Wells and Holkham Our updated safety leaflet provides advice and a map for staying safe around the sea on Wells and Holkham beaches and the saltmarshes. You can download and view or print a PDF version here...

Download the map - updated 27/5/2022

Float To Live demonstration 12/8/25

Knowing how to calm your breathing, lie back and float could save your life.... our water safety officer demonstrates the RNLI's simple advice if you end up in the water unexpectedly...

  • 1. Tilt your head back, submerging your ears
  • 2. Relax and control your breathing
  • 3. Move your arms and legs if you need to
  • 4. It doesn't matter if your arms and legs hang down a bit; everyone floats differently

Try it yourself next time you're at a swimming pool or in the sea on the beach... it could save your life!

Word Search - Cut off by the tide

Word Search PDF

A bit of fun... a word search on a water safety theme for the kids or anyone to occupy a few minutes on a rainy day or busy morning on the holidays or before you set off to visit on a day trip.

View Word Search (PDF)

BBC Radio interview January 2024

BBC Radio Norfolk interview, January 2024... Edd Smith chats to visits volunteer Glenda Foster and crew member and water safety officer Mandy Humphries

Download the podcast (mp3 file) to play later.

Getting started with swimming 9/7/25

Our safety work in schools and with visiting groups has shown us that there's still a lot of children who can't swim well. Being confident on and in water is a huge advantage when things go wrong and not being able to swim means children not only missing out on a lot of fun as well but an important life skill. Sometimes we hear it's the parents that don't swim and are nervous near the water which means their children lack experience and confidence and the risks are increased. In this podcast, life-long swimmers and swimming coaches Alan and Katrina Jackson talk about ways to get families with young children started with swimming...

Download the podcast (mp3 file) to play later

Marine Police Podcast

A chat with local marine police officer Simon Blakeley about boat safety in Norfolk harbours

Download the podcast (mp3 file) to play later

Don't get cut off by the tide

Advice to avoid being cut off by the tide on beaches and the marsh

One hour either side

Advice for swimmings, rowers and paddlers to avoid the strongest flows on the tide

Water Safety Local Ambassador Scheme - Wells

Liam Fayle-Parr speaks to water safety volunteer Mandy at Wells and the local water safety ambassadors at a local holiday park and tourist centre

A rescue performed by Blakeney Sailing Club

Advice about throw lines in a recent rescue performed by Blakeney Sailing Club members...

View document

Tide Times

To avoid being cut off by the incoming tide on the sands or marshes, make sure you are back on the main Wells beach, coast path or the land-ward side of any channels or drains four hours before the time of high water shown above.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity, registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). This website is managed and maintained by local volunteers at Wells-next-the-Sea Lifeboat Station and is not the main RNLI site. All text and images copyright (C)2005-2021 RNLI Wells Lifeboat Station, or as indicated, and may not be downloaded, copied or reproduced elsewhere without prior permission of the station or the relevant copyright holder.