Water Safety in Virginia

Virginia's water ranges from the fast Potomac at Great Falls to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic beaches. Don't swim or wade in the Potomac near Great Falls, learn how surf currents work before an ocean swim, and take Virginia's boating safety course before you drive a motorboat or personal watercraft. The course is required for every operator of a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more.

Virginia drowning and boating numbers

16 deaths

• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 85 reportable recreational boating incidents in Virginia in 2024, with 16 deaths and 44 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 21 in 2020, 18 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 8 in 2023 and 16 in 2024.
• Drowning: CDC puts Virginia's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.03 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), below the U.S. rate of 1.31.
• Shoreline: NOAA lists 3,315 miles of official shoreline (opens in a new tab) for Virginia, following bays and tidal rivers as well as the ocean coast.

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our Virginia data page.

The Potomac at Great Falls

The Potomac is beautiful and deadly. Along the river, the National Park Service says many people have drowned in the Potomac River because they underestimated the strength of the river current, were drinking alcohol when they decided to go swimming, or didn't think the river was deep enough (opens in a new tab) to need swimming skills. Hidden flood debris, deep holes and strong currents are all part of the danger.

At Great Falls Park, the Park Service warns that storms can roll in quickly which causes the water levels to rise (opens in a new tab), and parts of trails may close for flooding. Check the park's alerts and the weather before you go, and take weather advisories seriously. Enjoy the falls from the overlooks and trails.

Talk with teens and young adults about the river, and read water safety for college students and young adults and alcohol and swimming.

Ocean beaches at Chincoteague and Assateague

On Assateague Island, home to Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, the Park Service says conditions at the beach and in the surf zone can change dramatically in very short periods of time (opens in a new tab). Learn how surf zone currents work before you swim, and practice how to escape a rip current.

Virginia boating rules

From the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR):

• All PWC operators age 14 and older and all operators (regardless of age) of motorboats with a 10 hp or greater engine need to take a boating safety course (opens in a new tab). The rule was phased in by age from 2009, and since July 1, 2016 it has applied to every motorboat operator.
• Carry your course completion card or certificate when you operate.
• Some people are exempt, such as holders of certain Coast Guard licenses and visitors who meet their home state's requirements. See the DWR page for the full list.

Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a life jacket on a moving boat (opens in a new tab). This is a summary, not legal advice.

What you can do today

• Make a family rule: no swimming or wading in the Potomac.
• Check Great Falls alerts and the forecast before your visit.
• Take DWR's boating safety course if you drive any motorboat or personal watercraft.
• Before a beach trip, practice the rip current escape steps with your kids.
• Find swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.