The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) has launched a safety initiative in the Garden Route area in the hopes of saving lives this holiday season.
The NSRI used a harmless green dye to highlight rip currents at Herolds Bay and Wilderness beach.
NSRI's Wilderness Station Commander Mike Vonk said they believe that Rip currents are the greatest danger that holidaymakers will face when they visit the beach this festive season.
Vonk said they had used Fluoresceine dye in a once-off deployment to highlight the Rip Currents at Herolds Bay and Wilderness and photograph and video their movement.
Fluoresceine Dye is harmless. It is used by doctors to see issues in patients' eyes, by plumbers to detect leaking pipes and by fishermen to attract fish.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued a permit to the NSRI to release the dye for educational and research purposes.
Vonk said these photos and videos would be used as educational tools to teach beach safety.
He also encourages bathers to swim at a beach that is lifeguarded and to swim between the lifeguard's flags.
If lifeguards are not on duty, it is safer not to swim, he added.
Vonk also implored parents to watch their children at all times when they are in or near the water.
