Off-duty lifeguards are pleading with beachgoers to stay out of the water if there are no guards on duty after several rescues this week.

Officials say that two women found themselves in trouble Wednesday afternoon near the jetty by the Ocean Grove pier. On a seemingly calm day, dangerous currents still exist.

“You can put yourself next to the jetty with rip currents pulling you right out and I believe that’s what happened yesterday and both today,” said Jamie Doyle, Ocean Grove chief lifeguard.

Officials also say that on Tuesday, several young children were helped out of the water by two off-duty guards maintaining a skeleton crew, watching over beaches from Ocean Grove to Avon-By-The-Sea.

“There were several that we got to witness yesterday while we're sitting right here. A couple was the first, then there was a child,” said Kerry McCann, who watched the rescues take place while visiting Ocean Grove from Newark.

Doyle says the safest way to enjoy local summer is on the sand - with temperatures in the 70s, under clear blue skies.

“My kids’ school starts tomorrow. They wanted to come today. They’re not allowed to come today. There’s no lifeguards on duty. If you come to the beach, don’t go into the water,” said Doyle.

The Ocean Grove off-duty guards just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

“I walked right up to them and told them what a great job they did. Even yesterday I made sure to go where they were coming out, we were clapping and cheering it's pretty impressive they do a great job,” added McCann.

Lifeguards will not be on duty in Ocean Grove until next spring, but Doyle says some other towns will have guards staffed, especially on weekends. He recommends calling the municipality and checking local beach patrol social media pages.