South Australians will be able to access daily reports on algal bloom conditions at popular beaches through Surf Life Saving’s Beachsafe app – backed by record Surf Life Saving beach patrols - as part of the Algal Bloom Summer Plan.

The free app, and companion website, will provide easy-to-understand information to help them make informed decisions about how best to enjoy the beach.

The state government’s beach clean-up crews will conduct visual algal bloom inspections at 23 locations across the metropolitan and south coast each morning from North Haven to Goolwa.

Based on these inspections, the Beachsafe app and website will let the public know three clear pieces of information:

• If the beach is clear of abnormal foam.
• If the water is discoloured or not.
• What time the beach was last cleaned.

Each report will include a fresh picture of the beach, including a view of the water, to provide more information on local algal bloom conditions.

The Beachsafe app will be backed by a record deployment of Surf Life Saving beach patrols - with eight popular beaches having seven-day ‘Between the Flags’ Surf Life Saving patrols all through summer.

The following Fleurieu beaches will have daily reports on the Beachsafe app: Aldinga, Goolwa, Middleton, Normanville, Port Elliot, Port Noarlunga, Sellicks, South Port and two at Victor Harbor.

Metropolitan beaches included are: Brighton, Glenelg, Grange, Hallett Cove, Henley, Largs Bay, Moana, North Haven, Seacliffe, Semaphore, Someone, Tennyson and West Beach.

The Beachsafe reports will be expanded from the initial 23 sites to include more regional beaches ahead of summer and the school holidays.

Regular beach activities will continue throughout summer, including the nippers program, Vacswim, community surf rescue courses, CALD water safety programs, surf babies and surf education.

The consistent advice from SA Health is that South Australian beaches can still be enjoyed but it is best to stay away from foamy or discoloured water, which may cause irritation.

The state’s nearly 3,000 volunteer patrolling Surf Life Savers returned to beaches on the weekend. 

From December 1, the patrols will increase to seven days a week, up from weekends and public holidays, at the following beaches:

• Semaphore
• Henley
• Glenelg
• Brighton
• Port Noarlunga
• Moana
• Aldinga
• Goolwa

The daily patrols will continue all the way through to the conclusion of Daylight Saving on April 6, 2026

Damien Marangon is CEO of Surf Life Saving SA.

“This investment in our Beachsafe app will help people make informed decisions before they even get to the coast — including where their nearest patrolled beach is and what conditions to expect, “ he says.

“Last year, South Australia recorded the highest number of coastal drownings on record, so it has never been more important for people to swim between the red and yellow flags.

“By making this information more accessible and easy to understand, we’re helping families plan their day with confidence and keeping more South Australians safe this summer.”

The extra beach patrols and the Beachsafe app are a part of the state and federal governments’ Algal Bloom Summer Plan, which will be released in full later this week.