The Baltic coast is one of the most popular travel destinations in Germany in the summer. In the Bay of Lübeck alone, more than a million people spend their holidays each year - and the number is rising. Between May and September, the clear and shallow water reaches pleasant temperatures of up to 24 degrees Celsius and accordingly invites you to swim and swim. Unfortunately, many tragic accidents happen every year while swimming - some even with fatalities. Reason enough for us to ask: how dangerous is swimming in the Baltic Sea? We will give you valuable tips on how to get into the water more safely and enjoy an unadulterated bathing pleasure.

Every year from mid-May to mid-September I swim in the Baltic Sea almost every day. In midsummer I sometimes even manage to jump into the sea water twice a day. Especially in the early morning and evening, the water of the Baltic Sea off Scharbeutz is sometimes glassy and crystal clear. For all bathers who spend their summer vacation in Scharbeutz and Co spend, best conditions for splashing around.

Between May and September the sea is perfect for swimming. The first die-hards jump into the cool water in May at temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees Celsius, from June onwards it becomes significantly more crowded at up to 18 degrees and between July and the beginning of September the sea is sometimes so full of bathers that there is almost no water left sees.

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Holidaymakers underestimate the danger

Hardly any holidaymaker considers the Baltic Sea to be dangerous - the water in the Bay of Lübeck from Sierksdorf, Haffkrug, Scharbeutz, Timmendorfer Strand via Niendorf/Baltic Sea to Travemünde is usually very shallow, is often clear, and rarely deeper than 5 meters near the beach and the bottom is mostly just sandy. But appearances are deceiving.

The sea can also be different

The sea can also be different. In fact, swimming in the Baltic Sea some dangers that can quickly cause injuries or even cost the lives of careless and careless bathers. There were 18 swimming deaths in Schleswig-Holstein in 2018 - every single one of them is one too many. So try to protect yourself as best you can when you go swimming in the Baltic Sea. By becoming aware of the danger, you have already gained much.

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Poisonous animals and currents – Swimming in the Baltic Sea really is that dangerous

Only a few days ago I stepped on a large, sharp stone while bathing and got a severely bleeding scratch, which I immediately disinfected on the beach. Sounds harmless? In theory it is. However, there are flesh-eating bacteria not only in tropical waters, but also in the Baltic Sea. Infection can be serious and, in the worst case, fatal.

However, the bacteria are by no means the greatest danger. Swimmers are caught by currents and pulled underwater. Currents and waves are not only found in autumn and winter. You may know the so-called “rip current” – in German: surf back current or rib current.

These currents pull swimmers out into the ocean with immense force and can be deadly for even experienced swimmers. But a highly dangerous and poisonous fish also lives in the Baltic Sea - the weever.

1. Strong currents in the Baltic Sea

The so-called “rip current” – in German: surf back current or rib current – ​​which is created by sand banks, as they often occur along the German Baltic Sea coast. The water is essentially sucked back into the sea between two sand banks. The currents can develop immense forces and speeds of up to 9 km/h, which even experienced swimmers hardly have a chance at. The world swimming record for a human is currently 6,55 km/h. Due to strong waves and currents, several people sometimes die within a week while swimming and bathing in summer. Many of these accidents could be avoided.

2. Strong, sudden and offshore wind

Also a guarantee for a swimming accident is no strong, sudden and offshore wind. Just a few days ago, a rapidly approaching storm surprised two girls on their air mattress near the Scharbeutz pier and drove the bathers out to sea. Both were rescued by the fire department. I was also swimming on the beach at that time and was able to experience for myself how the weather conditions changed in minutes and the bathing pleasure turned into an escape from the approaching storm.

3. Toxic animals in the Baltic Sea: risk of injury for bathers?

If you think that there are no poisonous animals in the Baltic, you are completely wrong. Not only in tropical waters but also in our possible profit more there are animals, where you can violate yourself violently. a Any I haven't seen them in the Baltic Sea yet - it's not that dangerous - but the poisonous animals are rather inconspicuous. You can encounter these animals at any time while swimming in the Baltic Sea. The dangerous animals are primarily the so-called weever - a fish - and very nasty fire jellyfish.

weever

The name of the fish is weever. At first it sounds incredibly harmless. Unfortunately this is not so. The weever, which occurs in the Baltic Sea, is one of the most poisonous marine animals of all. In summer, the fish seek out shallow sandy bottoms near the beach for corpses. The spines of the first dorsal fin and a spine on the gill cover are poisonous. If touched, people who are allergic to the poison may experience dizziness, headaches, loss of consciousness or even cardiac arrest.

jellyfish

In August 2018, the worst invasion of yellow hair jellyfish or stinging jellyfish that I have ever experienced took place in the Bay of Lübeck. The water between Sierksdorf and Travemünde was full of the animals, also known as fire jellyfish. And so the bathing pleasure came to a premature end last year - because no matter where you went into the water in the Bay of Lübeck, you came out with severe itching and nettles. Even where there were no jellyfish, the fine hairs swam around and caused skin to burn. So it's better to give the animals a very wide berth.

Carnivorous bacteria

At water temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius, vibrios - carnivorous bacteria - can also occur in the waters of the Baltic Sea. They usually live in the seabed, but can be found in the heat of summer, but also in seawater. Danger from these tiny pathogens is mainly for people with chronic pre-existing conditions, weakened immune system and open wounds. For most people, nothing happens, with weakened people, blood poisoning is possible. If you feel very uncomfortable after a bath in the Baltic Sea and get symptoms such as fever and shivering, this may be due to the rapid and serious course of the disease. In this case, see a doctor who usually administers an antibiotic.

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Why do people get into trouble swimming in the Baltic Sea?

People are often in need because they misjudge a dangerous situation or do not follow the bathing rules. The red flag means bathing prohibition. Hardly a vacationer sticks to it.

Tips for bathers and swimmers – this will make your fun safer

1. Never go into the water alone and carry an inflatable life buoy on your body
2. Beware of currents and heavy waves
3. If possible, go to the water only at guarded swimming areas
4. Pay attention to marine animals, sharp stones and shells
5. Before jumping into the sea, cool in the shower
6. Keep an eye on your children at all times
7. Immediately out of the water during thunderstorms

Swimming in the Baltic Sea is dangerous? – Proper preparation is everything

My conclusion

Swimming in the Baltic Sea is an incredibly great pleasure in the summer and at the same time a real alternative to one Holidays on the Mediterranean, The water will warm slightly above 20 Celsius, is not particularly salty and has a gorgeous green color. Actually, these are the perfect conditions to really splash around in the sea and have a good time.

However, the Baltic Sea is tricky and for swimmers and all bathers much more dangerous than you might think. By far the most dangerous is when swimming in the Baltic Sea, the strong current that you worst to the open sea pull out or push underwater. I have already noticed first-hand how strong such currents can be and how difficult it is to get rid of them again. Especially uncomfortable is the fact that you only notice the currents in the Baltic Sea when you have already packed one. Take care when swimming, only go into the water at a beach guarded by the DLRG and pay attention to the flagging - in the case of red flags, swimming in the Baltic Sea is forbidden - and never without a reason.

And also from the poisonous sea ​​creatures Of course you should beware. Especially the Petermännchen and Feuerquallen can be dangerous in midsummer. Of course there is no 100-owned security, not to overlook one of these animals. However, if you prepare yourself mentally, you can act quickly and treat possible wounds in an emergency. Incidentally, the same applies to shards, shells and stones, which are stuck in the shallow water in the sand and may be less visible under water. Again, you can easily inflict injuries that may ignite in saltwater. In case of doubt necessarily consult a doctor.

Those who do not overestimate their own abilities, are not reckless and swim with due respect to the sea in the Baltic Sea, will certainly have a lot of fun and joy in the water.

Swimming and swimming in the Baltic Sea, of course, always at your own risk. 

What experiences have you had while swimming and swimming in the Baltic Sea? Let us know in the comments.