More fun in and on the water through safety.

Safety should not be the price for a good day on the water. It simply belongs, just like checking the weather or applying sunscreen. A small gesture, no extra effort.

Just Add Safety.

Read the Mission Statement Document
16 pages on why we exist, what already exists, and where we aim to be by 2030. (PDF, 4.9 MB)

Why we exist

Safer Shorelines was born out of a loss.

On July 24, 2019, twenty-year-old Verena Heinz passed away. Verena was a water-loving freediver deeply connected to the ocean, who in her young years had already positively influenced countless people. She died while swimming back from a freedive. A motorboat traveling far too fast struck her, despite her buoy, close to the shore.

Eight months later, family and friends founded Safer Shorelines. Not as a business model, but as an answer to one question: How do we prevent this from happening to others?

We hope that Verena’s legacy will help prevent similar senseless and, above all, avoidable accidents in the future and save lives.

What we do

On the water, knowledge is rarely what is missing. What is missing is someone who models it. Hardly anyone reads warning signs to the end, and people click away from shock images. People emulate what they see in others.

That is why the 10 Rules exist, modeled after the FIS rules for skiing. On the slopes, everyone knows what applies without someone having to stand by. That is exactly what we want for the water.

Two years of work, countless drafts, and extensive input from water sports specialists went into them. Every round had the same goal: to become simpler without losing validity. In the end, they were intended to apply to every water sport and be understood upon first reading.

That is exactly how they turned out. They are free, available in several languages, and everyone is welcome to use them.

In addition, there are tools that make sharing easy: posters, course materials, and an open image archive. And Safety, our brand ambassador.

Safety is the friend you can ask anything. She loves water sports, and it shows. She dives, snorkels, paddles, sails, and swims in open water; she knows the technology and equipment, and when things get tricky, she is already there. She does not lecture anyone. She demonstrates the good decision instead of warning against the bad one. Watching her makes you want to join in.

For whom

Water sports enthusiasts who want to experience a beautiful day on the water and return home safe and sound in the evening.

Clubs and schools that teach safety without losing the fun.

Water sports businesses: Dive centers, surf schools, sailing schools, canyoning providers, and all others who accompany people into the water.

Manufacturers, whom we like to motivate to make safety equipment stylish. What looks good will be worn.

Municipalities and tourism, for whom a safe beach is also a good beach.

Everywhere where people enter the water.

Get involved

Ambassador

You want to make a contribution. You are a water sports professional and can teach and model safety. You are well-connected and carry the topic to the outside world. You are committed to water sports. Everything counts.

We provide the tools: the 10 rules, posters, images, and the Safety Character Guide. With Safety by your side, you will achieve truly great results.

Wave Maker

You are out on the water yourself and want others to move there as safely as you do. Then spread the word and support us with a small financial contribution. This is guaranteed to go toward more safety in water sports.

I want to take action
Follow the rules: the 10 safety rules
Mission Statement as Document

Goal: More safety for all types of water sports
Location: All countries where water sports take place
How: National organizations, best practice guides, and training

Prevention instead of fear. Safety that is fun. No finger-wagging.

For Verena.