Beach season officially kicks-off this weekend, with lifeguard patrols starting at Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens.
And while the number of drowning deaths in the Hunter Region dropped in 2018/19 compared to the previous year, lifeguards are urging caution in the water.
Lake Macquarie City Council's lifeguards had their final training session at Catherine Hill Bay yesterday ahead of their first patrol on Saturday.
"The best way for people to stay safe is to swim at patrolled beaches, between those red and yellow flags," the council's acting beach lifeguard service team leader James McMorland said.
"Our professional beach lifeguards are here to help, so if at any time you are unsure about the conditions or have any other concerns, have a chat to one of the lifeguards before entering the water."
The first patrols of the 2019/20 season come after Royal Life Saving Australia released its annual National Drowning Report last week, which showed that 98 people died from drowning in NSW in 2018/19 - down one per cent from the previous 12 months.
Royal Life Saving Australia figures show that six of those drowning deaths took place in the ocean or backyard pools at Newcastle, Port Stephens, Lake Macquarie or the Hunter Valley.
The Hunter Region's 2018/19 total was two fewer than the previous year, while there were five fatal drownings in 2016/17, 12 in 2015/16 and 15 in 2014/15.
According to data from Lake Macquarie council, lifeguards conducted 248 rescues across four patrolled beaches - Blacksmiths, Caves, Catherine Hill Bay and Redhead - while first aid was administered 1432 times and 5803 preventative actions were performed.
Lake Macquarie's patrolled beaches will have lifeguards on duty between 9am and 5pm seven days a week until the end of April.
In Newcastle, Nobbys, Bar and Merewether beaches are patrolled all year, but other popular spots including Dixon Park and Newcastle will be added to the mix from this weekend.
At Port Stephens, lifeguards will be on duty at One Mile for the first time on Sunday, before Fingal and Birubi beaches get their first patrols on Wednesday. More details about patrol times are available on each council's website.
