Due to some rough water along the coast this holiday weekend, the Volusia County Beach Safety Patrol is flying the red flags for dangerous rip currents.

  • Lifeguards repositioning towers behind shoreline
  • Some cars turned away Saturday due to high tide

The dangerous beach conditions are not keeping Daytona Beach goers away this holiday weekend, but the rip currents have even experienced surfers on alert.

"Even when it's big I never take any of my students when it's past chest deep," said surfing instructor Ryan Ragan. "The ocean's currents are really strong, so you want them to be able to get off their board and be able to stand up and fight the currents."

That's why beach safety and ocean rescue are flying the red flags. The water is coming up high enough to push lifeguards to reposition their towers behind the shoreline.

"At first it was like fine and all shallow and stuff, but when the waves started picking up it went almost over our heads," said one of Ragan's students.

Ragan works with his students right near a lifeguard tower, which is something beach safety patrols across the state are asking folks to do this weekend, part of a campaign called "Swim Near a Lifeguard."

"With these type of swells and undertow, keep an eye on your kids, because they can get pulled under and out of your sight in a second," said Ragan.

Daytona Beach has 60 lifeguard towers staffed, and another 40 life guards roaming the beach for coverage. The deputy chief said 14 lifeguards are also on duty training.

Some cars were turned away Saturday because of the high tide, and as of 4:00 p.m. beach and ocean rescue reported 12 water rescues with 25 victims.

Current conditions are expected to remain throughout the weekend.