Confessions of a beach patrol officer: It's babe and Baywatch

Maintaining a buff bod is also part of the deal. After all, keeping fit is key to getting to a drowning person on time to save him, he says.

He has to be on the alert, not only for swimmers in trouble but also for sunbathers headed for trouble by going topless.

Mr Muhammad Yamin Yusof's duty as one of Sentosa's beach patrol officers is to tell the women to cover up.

It is usually an awkward exchange, but he tries to be "professional", says the 24-year-old with a laugh.

"I just approach them, say 'hi, excuse me, in Singapore... It's not a nude beach here. You cannot... If you don't mind, can cover up?," he says, demonstrating his standard script to this reporter.

He gets a mix of reactions from the women, he confesses.

"Some of them spot us approaching from a distance and start covering up, while others simply flip over after we tell them it's not allowed," he says.

He has also had to step in when couples get hot and heavy at the beach.

"There was a pair on a grass patch really getting into things, and I had to go over and tell them to stop what they were doing, because it's a public place," he says with a chuckle.

These awkward moments don't get under his skin much. Indeed, he breaks out into a cheeky grin when this reporter remarks how it cannot possibly be hard looking out for "troublesome" sunbathing women all day.

The job, which he took up about two years ago, entails braving Singapore's sweltering heat from 8.30am to 7pm five days a week. For his efforts, he makes about $1,700 a month.

No doubt, perched on his raised seat and keeping watch on a beautiful beach, surrounded by bikini clad babes is a job he does enjoy.

In a confession that flies in the face of medical advice, the young man says he no longer finds sunblock necessary, since his super tanned skin doesn't burn anymore. His only concession to protection is his long-sleeved shirt, a part of his uniform.

It's a job that most people would enjoy, he nods.

He sits in an elevated watchtower overlooking a sandy beach, with hot babes in skinny bikinis frolicking around him.

"I remember an incident where a dog was chasing a boy, and the boy went into the water. The boy's parents and the dog owner started arguing.

"When I stepped in to inform the dog owner that her dog had to be on a leash, she retorted, 'I know what I'm doing, okay. Don't tell me what to do.'

" I also had to comfort the mother... It was a messy situation," he says.

In the end, the boys' parents let the matter rest because the kid was not injured, he says.

Mr Muhammad Yamin, who was a surf instructor at Sentosa's Wavehouse for about six months before joining the beach patrol team, says a love for water runs in his family.

"At first I used sunblock, but these days, I find it quite unnecessary," says the tanned lad.

His 27-year-old sister is also a beach patrol officer at Sentosa, while his father works as a commercial diver.

Being put in a position to save lives and make a difference is his favourite aspect of the job.

"It's something I feel a bit heroic about," he admits sheepishly.

He recounts the time he rescued a visitor from China, in January last year.

"He looked like he was struggling... So I swam out. By the time I got to him he was about to go down. It turns out that he didn't know how to swim, he drifted out too far, couldn't touch the ground and started panicking.

"It was a really good feeling because his friends were very anxious and they all thanked me when I managed to bring him back safely," he adds.

Other medical emergencies he has had to deal with include a guest who had a heart attack and someone who bashed his head against a boulder in a fall.

The physical nature of the job also means beach patrol officers are expected to stay in shape.

To join the team, they have to pass a physical fitness test which involves swimming 200m and running 400m, all within eight minutes.

Mr Muhammad Yamin, who passed on his second try, maintains a strict fitness regime and diet to keep his physique toned.

So he has to overcome temptation when his family members sometimes tuck into the delicious fare cooked by mum.

Plus, it's almost unsaid prerequisite of sorts.

"None of us really talk about it (keeping fit), but I guess some level of comparison between the beach officers is inevitable," he says with a big grin.

Ten sets of six pull-ups, six dips, and six diamond push-ups. "The whole routine takes about two to three hours," he says.

Training without keeping an eye on your diet doesn't work, says the Mr Yamin, who says he was "a bit chubby" before he joined the patrol team.

These days, his lunch consists of brown rice with chicken breast or tuna, or snacks like wholemeal bread with peanut butter or wheat biscuits.

Maintaining an awesome physique has other advantages: Sometimes he gets asked by women for his phone number.

And does he give it to them?

"Sometimes!"

Secrets of the trade

1 A pair of shades come in really handy when you have to tell women who sunbathe topless to cover up. It doesn't prevent you from seeing what's in front of you, but pretending for those few moments helps.

2 Start anticipating possible scenarios of danger when you're on the watch tower, so that if anything happens your instincts can simply kick in.

3 Dealing with kids who have been stung by jellyfish can be a pain. But offering as sweet or two always helps in a teasing out a smile.

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