Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project

06/11/2026 - South Bend Tribune - Do's and don'ts to stay safe while swimming in Lake Michigan

While Lake Michigan can be fun and relaxing, it can also be dangerous. Dave Benjamin, the co-founder and co-executive director of the Greater Lakes Surf Rescue Project, said the "basic dynamics" of the lake make it the deadliest of the Great Lakes in terms of drownings.

"There's a high population density along the shoreline," Benjamin said, "and it's a tourist destination. … It's 300 miles long from the north to the south, and from east to west, it's 118 miles wide, and wind over water creates dangerous currents. So it's the winds that are creating the dangerous currents."

The dangerous currents in the Great Lakes are caused by the winds and are often difficult to spot. The rip current channels open and close creating what is called a flash rip.

The Surf Rescue Project categorizes the direction of the wind in three ways: onshore, sideshore and offshore. The wind directions also often combine in the Great Lakes, which can lead to unsafe conditions.

Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!
With these statistics in mind, The Tribune created a list of do's and don'ts of swimming in the lake...

Do's and don'ts to stay safe while swimming in Lake Michigan Lake Michigan annually leads the Great Lakes in drownings. Here are some water-safety tips.