Local lifeguards are encouraging residents and visitors to 'swim to their own ability' as rips and moderate swell affect the Port Macquarie coast.
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Port Macquarie lifeguard supervisor James Turnham said he was encouraging swimmers to be cautious and swim in patrolled areas such as Town Beach and Flynns Beach.
"There's a lot of rips around at the moment - they're at all beaches," he said.
"We have had about a dozen rescue assists over the weekend (February 9), where we swim out and assist someone back to shore."
Mr Turnham said the weather conditions were not out of the ordinary for Port Macquarie and swimmers should always be aware of their own safety at the beach.
"My advice at the moment to swimmers is just to know your swimming ability and swim where you can reach the bottom at all times, even when swimming between the flags," he said.
"The swell isn't huge but we haven't had moderate sized waves for some time (which can catch people off guard).
"It's not out of the ordinary (to see difficult surf), we have strong conditions at the moment and are expecting similar conditions through to next week."
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