Keeping Your Valuables Safe at the Beach
Posted on Wed, Nov 25, 2009 by Sheila
A very nice reader, Chris, from Oahu recently wrote me saying,
I noticed that a lot of visitors to Hawaii forget about protecting their cell phones around the beach. They either drop it in the ocean, leave it by their towel and not realize that an occasional wave can reach the towel and anything else laying near it like a cell phone.
I have counted at least 3 friends and a family member who have their phones ruined by the ocean. Even if you have cell phone insurance, you will still have to pay $50 for a replacement in many cases and go through the whole activation process.
Thanks, Chris, for suggesting this important topic that’s often not considered until it’s too late!
In addition to cell phones, it’s important to keep your money, identification, camera and car keys dry and secure. These days, most car keys have electronics embedded in them that will not work if they become wet.
Another important point about protecting your valuables that Chris hasn’t observed, but other readers have mentioned is that unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for an opportunistic thief to snatch your valuables when you step away from your beach towel or aren’t looking. To be safe, you really should keep your valuables with you at all times.
So, what can you do to protect your valuables at the beach? I recommend that you purchase a dry bag that you can securely attach to your wrist or waist. Amazon has a very big selection of dry bags with reviews. ( I have a small dry box that I mentioned, but it’s too small for everything. So, I’m thinking about purchasing this dry bag for myself.) You might also check at your local sporting goods store.
What other solutions do you have for protecting your valuables at the beach?
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I use a bag (VentureSafe 25L) or portable safe (TravelSafe 100) from Pacsafe, then lock it around a tree or another secure fixture if I can find one.
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One time I accidentally waded into the ocean with my iPhone in my pocket. It didn’t get submerged but it did get soaked. It quit working for a few hours but then it magically came back to life!
Another time I was standing on a sea-wall enjoying the view when a wave washed over the wall. (Only about 2-inches deep) I was in my work clothes & dress shoes so decided to jump over the water. My iPhone also jumped – out of my shirt pocket and on to the cement in about half an inch of ocean water. The phone still worked but the camera was busted. Luckily – The Apple store gave me a new one – no questions asked.
Friends of mine who surf typically lock everything in the car except for the car key which they tie to the waist-string of their board-shorts.
Our family goes to the beach all the time and we take turns getting in the water. Sometimes we abandon our stuff but we don’t go far. The beach bag has a zipper and we cover it with a towel. Then we ask the person next to us to help us watch it for 10 to 15 minutes and we tell them exactly where we will be. Nobody has ever refused.
Sometimes people ask us to watch their bag as well. Our typical reaction is “When will you be back?” Sometimes people say 15-20 Minutes. (Always happy to do that) A few times someone expected us to watch the bag for an hour or longer. The answer was “An Hour?! – Sorry, No.”
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You also need to be careful where you sit. I’ve seen people camp out too close to the ocean and then a big wave washes in and soaks almost everything they own. It happens faster than most people can react.
People typically sit there for a few seconds in denial – “Oooohhh look, a big wave… No way that wave is going to come all the way out here… Is it?… OMG!!!”
Most people are only fast enough to get on their feet and MAYBE grab ONE thing like the baby or a purse or a camera. Nowhere near enough time to rescue everything. I’ve seen waves come up on shore and take entire beach bags, towels, shoes, etc.
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Great advice, Sheila. I think I will look into those dry bags. I’m more concerned with theft than getting things wet. It’s a little easier if you’re traveling with others, because you can all take turns guarding the valuables while everyone else is in the water, but when you’re traveling alone, you either need to take it with you or don’t bring it to the beach. I’ve heard stories from friends who have dropped their cell phones in the water from a boat, but I hadn’t realized so many people sit close enough to the water on the beach to get their things wet!
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