Maroochydore beach is patrolled by the Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club. The club is located at the end of the main street and there is a large car park adjacent to the club house, with a fenced foredune backing the beach. Rips are common along the beach, so swimmers should stay in the patrolled area. The entire beach faces east-north-east and receives waves averaging 1m at Maroochydore, decreasing slightly toward Alexandra Headland. These produce a single bar along the beach that is cut by rips every 200m. During and following big seas the bar may detach from the beach, forming a continuous trough that feeds the rips.

While waves are usually 1m or less, care needs to be taken on these beaches owing to the common presence of rips and the rocks on the headland beach. The northern end of Maroochydore Beach also contains deep tidal channels and shifting bars and is particularly hazardous. Likewise, there is a strong permanent rip against the rocks at the southern end of Alexandra Headland Beach.