Costa Ballena Raises Funds for the Lifeguards

The beaches along Costa Ballena are the star attraction for tourists – perfect for surfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling, SUP, building sand castles, or just hanging out in the shade of an almond or coconut tree and watching the tides come and go.

By Nate Bright

LG41

All this natural beauty and activity come with risks, as well. The Costa Ballena Lifeguard committee reports that theLG7 lifeguards at Playa Hermosa have rescued 30 people in 2015 so far, most of whom were caught in a rip currents which can be deadly even for experienced swimmers.

LG32 DJ SwellThe rip currents at Playa Dominical can be even more dangerous because of the seasonally changing river mouth of the Rio Barú, and generally, larger surf swells.

Until recently, the lifeguard towers have only been occasionally manned by volunteers in Dominical, and tragically, four people have drowned.

LG27Paid, certified lifeguards save lives! The Costa Ballena Lifeguard committee recently started hosting monthly parties to raise the funds needed to continue the program at Hermosa and re-open the tower in Dominical. With the help of sponsors like the Roadshack, Café Mono Congo, Patrons, and generous donations of raffle prizes like surfboards, airline tickets and hotel stays, nearly $4,000 have been raised in July and August. Special thanks to DJ Swell and the Jungle Bros for making everybody dance.

LG21

And… as a direct result, the lifeguards are back on the beach every weekend in Dominical!

Check https://www.ballenatales.com/en/events-costa-rica/ for the next Lifeguard Party – come out and enjoy live music, drink specials, and help us save lives!

You can also make secure, monthly or one-time donations through PayPal by visiting:

http: /www.lifeguardscostaballena.com/

Posted in Activities, Costa Ballena, Dominical, Local News and Community Initiatives and tagged , , , , , , , , .