Legal
Safety Disclaimer
Last Updated: June 28, 2026
The content provided by the Turnagain Arm Bore Tide Safety Initiative (the "Initiative") is designed strictly to improve public safety awareness. It is not an endorsement, instruction guide, or manual for extreme sports.
1. Inherent Dangers of the Turnagain Arm
Turnagain Arm is one of the most hostile marine environments in North America. The incoming tide compressed by the Arm forms a wave (the bore tide) traveling between 10 to 15 miles per hour, carrying heavy logs, glacial silt debris, and ice blocks. Following behind the wave is a strong, turbulent current exceeding normal swimming speeds.
2. The Mudflats Entrapment Risk
The silt mudflats lining Turnagain Arm act like quicksand. Walking or launching from unverified locations carries the risk of instant entrapment. The rising tide can submerge an entrapped person quickly. Emergency crews have limited time and access to perform extraction. Never step onto the open mudflats.
3. Cold Water and Wetsuit Limitations
Water temperatures in Turnagain Arm range from 33°F (0.5°C) to 48°F (9°C). Sudden immersion in water this cold causes cold shock, immediate loss of breathing control, rapid physical incapacitation, and hypothermia. Standard wetsuits only slow the onset of hypothermia and do not prevent it. Proper safety equipment (heavy hood, gloves, booties, PFD, and communication gear) is mandatory but does not guarantee survival.
4. Course is Not a License or Certification
Passing the Safe Surfer Test and printing the Certificate of Completion serves only as a self-check of safety knowledge. It does not certify physical competence, water safety expertise, surf capability, or rescue capability. It is not a permit or license.
Always check active NOAA tide predictions, consult with experienced local surfers, and closely evaluate wind and weather before approaching the water. When in doubt, do not launch.