DON'T take part in water sports if you can't swim.

And if you still want to, learn how to swim first.

This is the advice from the National Water Safety Council (NWSC) on Friday, following last month's drowning of a Singapore Management Uuniversity student, Mr Levin Angsana.

This incident is 'another reminder that water safety cannot be taken lightly', said the council, urging all water sports participants, regardless of swimming proficiency, to take necessary precautions, especially the wearing of life vests.

It also reminded all water sports enthusiasts that conditions in open waters abroad may vary significantly from local conditions.

'The NWSC wishes to highlight that one of the best safeguards against drowning is the acquisition of swimming and water survival skills,' stressed the council.

To enable children to get a headstart, the council is currently working on integrating the existing Learn-to-Swim programme and the National Survival Swimming Awards into a national framework.

The Council has engaged Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (RLS) and Singapore Life Saving Society (SLSS) as consultants for this scheme, which is expected to be rolled out in early 2009.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, Chairman of the council, o NWSC, warned against a nonchalant attitude towards observing water safety.

'In a controlled environment where waters are calm, non-swimmers participating in water sports can be lulled into a false sense of security.'

'They might not be aware of the inherent dangers in a different or more volatile environment,' he said.

'It is thus necessary for all participants of water sports to possess swimming and water survival skills, as a safeguard against drowning.'