Film water safety in Scarborough
Scarborough has two bays split by the castle headland: the South Bay with the harbour, the Spa and the old town, and the quieter North Bay under the cliffs. Surfers ride the swell, fishing boats work from the harbour and, in summer, the beaches fill with families.
Whether the scene is on the beach, in the surf or on the harbour, we bring a safety boat and qualified water safety crew, and write the safety plan and risk assessment your production can file. Anyone going into the water is briefed first and has the boat and crew close by.
Swell and cold. The North Sea stays cold through the summer, and swell builds quickly from the north and east. Rip currents run beside the harbour walls and the rocks, so swimming scenes are placed away from them.
The tide. Much of the harbour dries at low water, and in rough weather at high tide the sea breaks over the sea wall on the Marine Drive. Times for each scene come from the tide table and the forecast.
Who is in charge. North Yorkshire Council is the harbour authority. We agree the plan with its harbour team, keep clear of the fishing boats, and settle any set-up on the beach with the council too.
Drones. Scarborough is clear of restricted airspace at drone heights; the military danger area over this coast starts at 15,000 feet. With crowded beaches below and seabirds nesting on the cliffs in spring, flights are planned around both.
Filming somewhere else? See all our film boat hire locations, or tell us where and we will find the right boat.
Beside the harbour walls and the rocks, so swimming scenes are placed away from them. The North Sea also stays cold through the summer, and swell builds quickly from the north and east.
North Yorkshire Council is the harbour authority. We agree the plan with its harbour team, keep clear of the fishing boats, and settle any set-up on the beach with the council too.
Scarborough is clear of restricted airspace at drone heights; the military danger area over this coast starts at 15,000 feet. Flights are planned around the crowded beaches and the seabirds nesting on the cliffs in spring.
