More than fifty years behind Del Mar’s lifeguards.

The Del Mar Lifeguard Association was founded in 1975, the same era the city’s lifeguard service was finding its feet on this stretch of sand. Half a century later, we’re still doing the same job: making sure the people who watch Del Mar’s water have everything they need to do it well.

Our mission is to promote beach and ocean safety through training, outreach, and education.

To be clear about what we are: DMLA is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The lifeguards themselves are professionals employed by the City of Del Mar’s Community Services department — we don’t hire them, train them, or put them on towers. What we do is back them up. Donations to DMLA fund rescue and safety equipment beyond what the city budget covers, scholarships for Del Mar lifeguards, beach and ocean safety education for the community, and the events — the Polar Plunge, the Fish Fry Surf Contest — that keep this beach town feeling like one.

If you swim, surf, or just plant an umbrella in Del Mar, the guards are watching out for you. We exist so someone’s watching out for them.