Welsh coastguards and lifeboat crews are warning people to beware as heavy swells and high tides are forecast during September.
The warnings come after recent call-outs saw a large number of adults and children having to be rescued off the Welsh coast.
Recent incidents included four major rescues in just one day, involving one man and seven children. Two girls were battered against rocks, two children were blown away from the coastline, and three got into trouble off the beach at Newgale. Meanwhile, a male bodyboarder received spinal and head injuries after he was swept onto rocks at Gower.
An RNLI spokesman urged people to check tide times and to be aware of the forecast for some dangerous conditions over the coming weeks. He also called on people to swim at beaches with lifeguard cover if possible and to take heed of warning flags and notices.
The advice is being echoed by coastguards and experts from across the UK, who are aware of a trend in September for people to want to hit beaches and swim in the sea as they attempt to make the most of the last of the summer weather.
The end of the school holidays also marks the end of lifeguard cover on many beaches and so people are being urged to take more personal responsibility when it comes to enjoying the British coastline.
September is still a popular month with holidaymakers within Britain, especially with those wanting to take advantage of the drop in prices after the children have returned to school, leading to a continuation of problems associated with people visiting beaches and sections of the coastline that they do not know well.
This, combined with the absence of lifeguards in many areas, makes it essential for people to check tide times, closely monitor conditions and exercise extreme caution as the autumn weather begins to take effect.
