The Brighton Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) is aware of the recent naturally occurring algal bloom along South Australia’s coastline. We understand that seeing or hearing about these conditions raises questions about water quality and safety for our upcoming Channel 7 Brighton Jetty Classic Swim on Sunday 1 February 2026. The good news is that health and environmental authorities advise that the bloom does not pose a long-term risk to people. In other words, it’s still considered safe to swim at our beaches under normal conditions.
Importantly, beaches remain open and experts report that the risk to the general public is low. The predominant advice from SA Health and other agencies is that swimming is fine in water that looks normal, and to simply avoid areas where the water is obviously discoloured or foamy. In line with this guidance, we encourage all our swimmers and beachgoers to use common-sense precautions: if the ocean at Brighton appears clean and clear (as it usually does), you can confidently enjoy your swim.
There are no known lasting health effects for people, and simple steps like rinsing off with fresh water after your swim are effective if you did contact any algae.
BSLSC is committed to vigilantly monitoring beach and water conditions in the weeks and days leading up to the event. Our surf lifesavers and event team will be keeping a close watch on the key indicators of water quality at Brighton Beach. This includes daily visual checks of the water for any signs of discoloration or foam, as well as being alert to any sudden changes in our area. We are fortunate that Brighton Beach is one of the beaches selected this summer for to have Monday to Friday Lifeguard patrols in addition to the weekend Volunteer Lifesaver patrols, with club members regularly on the beach who can quickly report if conditions change. Each day, right up to and including event day, we will review local conditions.
Our planning for the Brighton Jetty Classic Swim includes contingency measures: for example, if a localized bloom were to affect the Brighton Jetty area, we are prepared to modify the swim course, delay the start, or take other appropriate actions to ensure participant safety. We will be keeping a constant eye on conditions and giving timely updates if required to participants via the Channel 7 Brighton Jetty Classic Facebook and Instagram pages. At this stage, all signs are positive that the water quality will be suitable, and the event is scheduled to proceed as planned with a safe swim environment.
The BSLSC will post updates relevant to the swim and water quality on the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club and Channel7 Brighton Jetty Classic Facebook and Instagram pages and the Channel7 Brighton Jetty Classic Website
We aren’t doing this alone. BSLSC is closely collaborating with the relevant health and environmental authorities to stay up-to-date on the latest advice. We are in regular contact with Surf Life Saving South Australia (SLSSA) – our state body – which is actively working with the SA Government’s multi-agency response to the algal bloom. Through SLSSA, we are plugged into the State Government’s Harmful Algal Bloom Reference Group and other information channels that include experts from agencies like SA Health, the SA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and the Department for Environment and Water. These partnerships mean that we receive expert guidance in real time as the information evolves.
SA Health’s current advice – which we fully endorse – is that people should avoid swimming at beaches where water is discoloured or where there is marine foam present, and that if you do come into contact with affected water, you should rinse off promptly as a precaution.
Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and we want you – our swimmers, supporters, and local residents – to feel confident and reassured in the lead-up to the Brighton Jetty Classic Swim. Over the coming weeks, BSLSC will provide regular updates about the event’s status and water conditions. We will use our club’s website, social media pages, and email newsletters to share any new information we receive from SA Health, EPA, or Surf Life Saving SA. If there are any changes in advice or if any precautionary measures are needed, you will hear it from a variety of channels.
Thank you for your understanding and support – together, we will make sure the 2026 Brighton Jetty Classic Swim is not only a great community celebration, but a safe one for every swimmer. We look forward to seeing you on the beach for a fantastic event on February 1, 2026!
The Brighton Surf Life Saving Club (BSLSC) has always placed the safety and wellbeing of our swimmers and volunteers at the heart of the Brighton Jetty Classic Swim. While we remain positive about holding our event on 1 February 2026, we will follow the guidance, as assessed by SA Health, the South Australian Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Surf Life Saving South Australia, and other relevant agencies.
If an official recommendation is made to cancel the swim and it cannot be rescheduled or restructured on the day, BSLSC will act promptly in line with expert advice and prioritise clear, timely communication with all participants.
We understand the commitment each swimmer makes when registering, and as a community-run charity event, we are determined to balance fairness with our responsibility to cover essential event costs.
Accordingly, participants who have preregistered will be offered a partial refund of their entry fee should the event be cancelled on safety grounds. Refund details and the simple claim process will be communicated directly via email and on our official channels.
We thank our swimmers, sponsors, and supporters for their understanding, and reaffirm our commitment to transparency, community spirit, and above all – safety.
