Knowing how to swim is good no matter if you want to spend time at the beach or not. For beach trips, knowing how to swim comes in handy if you want to go in the water. But the answer to this question is no. You don’t have to know how to swim to take a trip to the beach, but we suggest not going into the water any higher than your knees. If the waves are high, avoid the water all together. Waves can pull you out to sea. If you’re riding on a boat, be sure to wear a life preserver. You should wear one anyway, but if you can’t swim, you especially need this device.