The deaths of two men under the age of 30 and a five-year-old boy has raised alarm bells for surf life savers.
Around the country life savers are bracing for their most hectic time of year, with many tourists admitting they know little about the dangers of the ocean.
"I just jump in the water and see how it goes," one American tourist told SBS.
Surf Life Saving NSW manager Andy Kent said he was expecting a high volume of calls over the Chrismas period.
"We know this weekend coming you know after Christmas and even during the weekend day's we're going to be inundated with calls," he said.
Last year, more than 200 people drowned around the country, an increase of 5 per cent.
This past weekend alone in New South Wales, surf clubs reported 63 rescues - 115 the weekend before.
Watch the full report in the video player above.
