Drowning deaths off WA coast increase

An increase in drowning deaths along the West Australian coast shows beachgoers are taking too many risks, surf lifesavers say.

In the year to April 30, there were 17 coastal drowning fatalities, up 30 percent compared to the seven-year average.

Surf Life Saving WA says the figures could have been far worse, given it performed 1386 life-saving rescues during those 12 months.

All of the drownings occurred at unpatrolled locations or outside of patrol times, with more than 82 percent in regional or remote parts of the state.

The highest risk regions were the Gascoyne, South West and Great Southern.

"People are 2.6 times more likely to drown at regional or remote coastal locations where vital lifesaving services and resources are limited compared to the Perth metropolitan region," Surf Life Saving WA said.

The vast majority of the deceased - 88 percent - were males.

And 70 percent of the deaths were adults aged 25-54.

More than a third of the fatalities were people from overseas, with swimming ability, knowledge of sea conditions and level of experience in an ocean environment playing a significant role in the tragedies.

Almost 30 percent of the deaths were attributed to rip currents, with many people mistaking them as a safe area to swim because the water looked calm.

Rock fishing was the riskiest activity, representing almost 30 percent of the drownings, followed by diving/snorkelling and boating.