Cyprus aims to present itself as a leading tourism hub, yet it fails to secure adequate lifeguard staffing, leaving locals and tourists at risk during the critical summer season — an oversight that could have tragic consequences for public safety.

Only 43 out of the 79 approved lifeguard positions for Limassol District have been filled, while just 16 of the 26 lifeguard towers are operational, Limassol Acting District Officer, Ilektra Panayiotou revealed, expressing concern about the understaffing observed this summer.

According to Ms. Panayiotou, despite reducing the required number of lifeguard medals from four to three, there has been no corresponding response, making it impossible to staff all lifeguard towers in Limassol.

Currently, 44 lifeguards are employed, including their supervisor, with the remaining 43 staffing 16 of the 26 towers. A total of 11 permanent lifeguards work during the winter months until March, stationed at specific towers from 7:00 to 14:30. From April, this number rises to 41, then to 55 in May, and 74 during the summer months. This year, 79 positions were approved.

“The situation is not that tragic when there is a second staffed tower in each area,” she said, highlighting a significant problem at Governor’s Beach, “where we couldn’t even operate a single lifeguard tower.”

She added that an examination process for new lifeguard candidates had been scheduled yesterday, Monday, but no applicants showed up. However, three people have since expressed interest and will soon be invited to undergo testing, after submitting the necessary documents. If hired, they will staff the Governor’s Beach tower.

Ms. Panayiotou also noted that the British Bases have requested a second lifeguard tower to be staffed at Lady's Mile, as currently only one tower is operational along its entire 5 km coastline.

The acting District Officer attributed the lack of interest to various factors, including Brexit, which reduced the number of Cypriot students studying in Britain who used to return earlier to Cyprus and showed interest in lifeguard jobs.

Additionally, she pointed out that many prefer to work at hotel swimming pools, which offer more benefits and fewer supervision responsibilities. She also cited regulations from the Cyprus Lifesaving Federation, explaining that lifeguard medals are valid for two years, and if someone does not progress to the next medal within that time, they must start over from scratch.

At the same time, the District Administration faces challenges staffing certain lifeguard towers during hours popular with morning swimmers. Ms. Panayiotou explained that although the summer operating hours for lifeguard towers are 10:30 to 18:00, at Olympion Beach and Kourion Beach, towers should ideally open from 6:30. However, due to understaffing, this is currently not possible.

“We have a real problem, and despite our efforts, unfortunately, we cannot meet the needs,” she concluded.

11 of the 19 lifeguard towers in the city and district of Larnaca are staffed with lifeguards, reported Savvas Ioannou, Administrative Officer A and District Supervisor of the Lifeguarding Office in the Larnaca District Administration.

So far, he continued, “we have conducted five recruitment processes, at least one each month, with the latest taking place last week. Tomorrow, four more individuals will start work, staffing the new lifeguard tower opening in front of the Lenios Hotel in Larnaca.”

He added, “at present there is a shortage of lifeguards, while at the same time, the recruitment procedures have become stricter. Candidates must be more experienced, which is better for swimmers since they know they will receive professional protection.”

Responding to a question, Mr. Ioannou stated, “out of the 19 lifeguard towers in the city and district of Larnaca, 11 will be staffed. However, if there is interest from candidates, a new process may be held to staff additional towers,” he noted, adding, “in the summer, interested candidates are usually students who meet the criteria. Most of them express their interest to us at the end of May or beginning of June. However, it is doubtful whether there will be further interest this year.”

He also commented, “the pay for lifeguards is very good, while the criteria have become more selective for quite some time now, as we try to align with international standards with the primary goal of protecting swimmers.”

Regarding the criteria, he explained, “candidates must have training with at least four medals from Lifeguard Associations in any of the free cities of Cyprus and must be state-certified. Due to low interest, we now ask for three medals to facilitate the process,” and noted that “a new lifeguard always serves alongside a more experienced colleague to gain experience.”

He continued, “recruitment criteria also include swimming 300 meters in under 7.5 minutes, knowledge of first aid, and an oral interview by a three-member committee.”

When asked whether the staffing situation this year is better or worse than last year, Mr. Ioannou replied that “it is about the same. For two years now, lifeguard towers have been staffed with two shifts starting from 6:30 in the morning until 8:00 in the evening,” he said.

He mentioned that staffed lifeguard towers in Larnaca include those at the CTO beach, the Oroklini Kiosk, Chrysopsaro, Lenios Beach, three at Finikoudes, Kastella, and three at Mackenzie.

Finally, Mr. Ioannou urged the public, “especially the elderly and those with possible medical issues, to be more careful when going to the sea and sitting on the beach, preferring morning or late afternoon hours and taking the necessary measures to avoid heatstroke.”