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To reduce drowning fatalities and health damage during recreational activities in coastal waters, this paper proposes a dynamic risk management system. Based on the operational definition of risk management, potential risks of coastal recreational activities are first identified as surfzone hydrodynamic and water quality. The safety criteria for each factor are discussed accordingly. The depth-velocity product is adopted to evaluate hydrodynamic safety. Salinity is adopted as a proxy indicator, which could be monitored in real-time, of Escherichia coli colonies in order to avoid the 18–24 h delay for cultivation. Then, technologies for surfzone hydrodynamic and water quality monitoring are developed and implemented as the basis for real-time risk assessment. This system is tested on the north-western coast of Taiwan. The results are discussed as a case study. The results from drifter cluster and miniature wave buoy for mapping the current and waves demonstrates a rotating eddy induced by tidal current. The range of safe water areas could be clearly marked. By applying this dynamic risk management system for coastal recreational activities, an early alert can be provided with the hope to reduce drowning. • A dynamic risk management system was proposed to give an early alert. • Salinity is proved as a proxy indicator of Escherichia coli colonies. • Low-cost drifter and mini wave buoy are developed for the surfzone measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]