Australia is very advanced when it comes to teaching swimming and water safety.
Israel also has great beaches and an outdoor climate all year around but a terrible level of drownings.
Israeli beaches seem very calm and safe but its a bit deceptive. Many people unfamiliar with the sea that can't swim properly walk out into the calm waters and then get themselves into trouble.
This seems to be a great deal of the drownings in Oz too. Many tourists seem to get into trouble in the Bondi rip.