I have had a close call at Kata beach on a windy day with a rough sea. Looked OK for a swim, I am a good swimmer. Didnt go out far but every time I swam back in a massive under current swept me back out again and the water crashed over my head, It didnt take long to get tired and take a few mouthfuls of water. So I just timed it right and swam flat out front crawl and got back in my depth so I could touch the sand again. Thats when I could feel the strong pull of the backwash. All of Kata and Karon is DEADLY when the water is rough. Please be aware. I read so many times of tourists drowning in this area on a rough day.

simply you are not a good beach swimmer.

if you were you'd know that you let the "rip" as they are called, carry you out

then swim parallel to the beach, usually not far, to where there is no rip and come back in with the waves.

you panicked and were lucky.

if you know about beach swimming, rips are pretty easy to spot.

its not hard to find info on that

the water is dangerous, sometimes brutally so

@steven;

Why do they need "to be protected" other than posting warnings to swim at your own risk?

We are talking about common sense.

Because some people simply have no idea. Same as a small kid has no idea about traffic and needs to be protected/educated.