rip currents - how scary?
Discussion
Bushmaster said:
Got dashed against coral outcrops, pulled my way hand over hand along the coral, got slashed to pieces, luckily made it back (just) before became exhausted. Waved frantically to OH on the beach, who just waved back!
Love that - I can so see that happening! The most frustrating feeling whilst they're probably nursing their tan... schmokin1 said:
One thing I will categorically say is that they do not take you a mile out! More like 50 or maybe even 100 metres.
Thank you. I was looking for a way to make that point.Like so many things, rip currents shouldn't be particularly dangerous. But human behaviour leads to a regrettable number of avoidable drownings.
Yes. Where a river flows into the ocean at a beach with waves, avoid the suspiciously calm water (unless you're wanting a ride out to catch the waves back in!).
hman said:
....nearly drowned fighting a rip tide (we had no idea what to do or even what one was). We'd been fighting the rip for ages and were completely knackered.
That is a perfect description of where the danger lies. If you had (a) understood what was happening, and (b) not fought it the situation it should not have escalated into that level of danger.Water looks so nice but can be so dangerous to land-dwelling mammals!
Ozzie Osmond said:
schmokin1 said:
One thing I will categorically say is that they do not take you a mile out! More like 50 or maybe even 100 metres.
Thank you. I was looking for a way to make that point.Like so many things, rip currents shouldn't be particularly dangerous. But human behaviour leads to a regrettable number of avoidable drownings.
Yes. Where a river flows into the ocean at a beach with waves, avoid the suspiciously calm water (unless you're wanting a ride out to catch the waves back in!).
Swim parallel to the shore and you should be out in 10-30m - frightening though.
I've spent quite a while in the sea winsurfing over the years, and you still forget and do some dumb things.
Most recent dumb thing was not checking the joint at the base of mast and board and not having any spare rope. It only took a minute or two to get out to the sandbar, landed a jump flat, broke the joint (UJ) and had to paddle back (for about 45 mins at least). The sea is a dangerous place
RIP tides need not be so dangerous. As stated before, dont panic, swim sideways or if you can at a diagonal to the shore, then once out of the current swim back to the shore. If you are Scuba diving and get caught in a current which is too strong, again dont panic, swim sideways out of the current or go deeper towards the ocean floor, where the effects current are dimished usually.
If you are going on holiday to a destination that has tidal waters, I would always recommend dropping into the local dive shop and asking them what local coditions are like etc. could easily save you or your families life.
If you are going on holiday to a destination that has tidal waters, I would always recommend dropping into the local dive shop and asking them what local coditions are like etc. could easily save you or your families life.
schmalex said:
My wife & I got caught in a rip current whilst swimming off the beach in The Gambia. One minute, we were well within my depth, the next, we were being pulled offshore. As the rip current was directly away from the beach (with no lifeguards!), we had no option but to swim as hard as we could against it. It took us a good 5 mimutes to cover the small distance to shallow enough water that I could get my feet on the bottom & pull us both to safety.
It was really, very scary & I we were lucky that that both Sam & I are strong swimmers. My anxiety didn't fade when we saw some fins coursing through the exact same piece of water the next day
how do you know they weren't swedish or norwegian?It was really, very scary & I we were lucky that that both Sam & I are strong swimmers. My anxiety didn't fade when we saw some fins coursing through the exact same piece of water the next day
filski666 said:
schmalex said:
My wife & I got caught in a rip current whilst swimming off the beach in The Gambia. One minute, we were well within my depth, the next, we were being pulled offshore. As the rip current was directly away from the beach (with no lifeguards!), we had no option but to swim as hard as we could against it. It took us a good 5 mimutes to cover the small distance to shallow enough water that I could get my feet on the bottom & pull us both to safety.
It was really, very scary & I we were lucky that that both Sam & I are strong swimmers. My anxiety didn't fade when we saw some fins coursing through the exact same piece of water the next day
how do you know they weren't swedish or norwegian?It was really, very scary & I we were lucky that that both Sam & I are strong swimmers. My anxiety didn't fade when we saw some fins coursing through the exact same piece of water the next day
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