Spotting and surviving a rip

May 22, 2017 5:57 AM

aussysadmin

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How to spot a rip

How to escape a rip

Sorry for the potato quality peoples, it was a quick post

excellent post. Definitely need more awareness about riptides. +1

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I was caught in one at Seal Beach at high tide. Terrible, terrible thing... and I'm not a strong swimmer at all.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I was going to make a joke about "R.I.P. currents" but people have died in them and it'd be wrong.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

Is learning to swim mandatory in the US?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

nope

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Aussie kids learn this at school. Is it part of our curriculum? I did swim scheme and surf survival in primary and high school.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

I learned this in school as well (basque country native), atlantic sea can be a bitch sometimes

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

This info can save your life. Another important thing is to try and stay calm, the sharks will probs get you before the drowning. #Australia

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Thankfully I will never have to worry about this. The possibility of sharks keeps me out of anything more than ankle deep @.@

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Please don't let depth fool you - was on ankle / knee deep sandbar w/o knowing it - one more step and fell into the trench with the riptide

7 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

How far out to sea do they go? Can they occur in a bay area?

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

I live in the CA bay area, and there's some nasty ones here, so yeah. They go out until the water's pretty deep, around 1/4 mile from shore.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I always been told to go diagonal with the wave and it should help you get to shore without fighting the current to much

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

People who aren't comfortable in waves head for the calm water, don't realise it's a deep gutter and the least safest place

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

As a surfer, we often use the rips to get out the back faster. But it's different when you're on a board and know what you're doing.

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

Do rip tides move/show up at different times due to the sea floor being altered, or are they always in the same places?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

It depends on the break (beach). Reef breaks often have a consistent rip, but tide and swell direction can change that quickly.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

There's one near my house that's always in the same spot, but I think it varies.

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

NO. go with the flow of the rip, people trying to fight to get out of one will usually run out of energy. Rips push you out then take you in

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 1

Ill favorite this so if im ever stuck in a rip I can find it a get to safety

9 years ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 1

Provided that imgur is working when you need it

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Yeah my main concern when I'm drowning in the ocean is if imgur servers are up too,

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I did think that this would probably be of most use to someone drowning right now, but then I realised they wouldn't have a phone with them

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 0

Don't forget to put it in its own folder. Oh wait... We still don't have them

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

In that case don't forget your reading glasses when you go swimming.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Here is one under water: v

9 years ago | Likes 12 Dislikes 1

2spooky4me ...

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Had to reverse it: v

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Not sure if it's rip current, but scary as fuk anyways.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

NOPE

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

No. that is a passing wave/swell. a rip does not form that quickly and is much more consistant

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Just a FYI this is not always true, in Guam you are told to ride it out and wait for help. Because Guam has a deep coral reef all around it

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

if you were to try to swim to the side or back to shore you would be turned into ground beef.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I grew up around beaches a lot; this stuff was hammered into my head my whole life. I forget this isn't common knowledge, thanks for sharing

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

This makes me really uncomfortable for some reason

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

As an Australian, this is the shit that will actually kill you here. Forget about the dangerous animal memes.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Got drgged out once, scariest shit in my life. Tried waving to my brother who was way up the beach for help and he waved back! 1/?

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

I was swimming literally for my life and wasn't going anywhere, I was completely exhausted in about 90 seconds and genuinely thought I 2/?

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

I was going to die. ended up diving down and digging my hands into the sand and sort of dragging my self, even when I got waist deep 3/?

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

the tide was still trying pull me back out. when I got to the beach I just collapsed and lay there for ten mins regaining my strength 4/?

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

no one even noticed I was in trouble and I found out later another guy died in the same situation. it was in Alicante Spain. 5/5

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Remember this can apply to large lakes as well. My nephew got caught in Lake Michigan.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

A Conveyer belt out back

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Did not know. TIL a thing. Thanks imgurian!

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Or: Swim between the flags and treat the water as if it were DEADLY POISON otherwise.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

What happens if you stand in a RT with your feet buried while yelling at the tide, "you shall not pass!"

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Almost bought the farm at bonzai north shore oahu. That water looks so inviting but it is deadly.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

TL;DR: Do not follow the Prometheus School of Running Away From Things

9 years ago | Likes 15 Dislikes 0

BenSnow97 would be good at CinemaSins *ding*

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

Especially rips, cause you're in water and running is not very effective in water.

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 0

Best friend died in one of these in Bali... this shit needs to be known

9 years ago | Likes 379 Dislikes 5

I'm sorry for your loss, I agree it is vital information

9 years ago | Likes 125 Dislikes 1

Yup 30 year old super fit guy (top goals scorer for his hockey team) just didn't know to swim sideways

9 years ago | Likes 46 Dislikes 1

Wife is from the prairies. Swimming in Mexico together. "I can't get closer to shore!" "Swim parrellel to shore." Both survive. :)

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

Just out of curiosity, what was his mistake? Did he try to swim straight to shore?

9 years ago | Likes 10 Dislikes 0

[deleted]

[deleted]

9 years ago (deleted Jan 9, 2018 9:46 PM) | Likes 0 Dislikes 0

That's a myth

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

In short swim sideways you'll never win against Mother Nature

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 0

As someone who has been caught in a rip current for close to 1/2 hour, I can only assume pure exhaustion from fighting the current.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Must have been terrifying.

3 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

That's what I understand, but I was not there at the time. Super strong swimmer just caught out at night by the calm bit in the surf I think

9 years ago | Likes 17 Dislikes 0

As a surfer I used this as a "quick" lane back out to the waves.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Important thing is if the current is moving out faster than you can swim, ride it up and to the sides. Don't get tired fighting the current

9 years ago | Likes 60 Dislikes 0

If you're a strong swimmer you can swim against the current @ 45deg angle (Halfway between across and against the current) and the (1/2)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

current will actually assist you by pushing you side ways without losing much distance from your starting point. (2/2)

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

I should add don't try this at home unless you know how to read the rip, understand hydraulics etc

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Soooo, what you're saying is, just float along with current events?

9 years ago | Likes 37 Dislikes 3

How many kids do you have?

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

9 years ago | Likes 11 Dislikes 1

that happened to me, tried swimming back in, in a panic and almost drowned from exhaustion

9 years ago | Likes 7 Dislikes 0

Did you die?

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

Yes I died, I'm writing this from BEEEyOOnnD ThEE GrAAAvE wooooOOoO!!

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

he dead

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

AF

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

This is important but should NOT make people think that rip currents are harmless if you just know what to do. It might be impossible for

9 years ago | Likes 121 Dislikes 5

yup. Beach lifegaurd and ive been caught in rips I didnt think i would make it out of. Shit is strong beyond beliefe

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Do they pull you under? I've never been in one and seeing this stuff makes me think you jist float and move to the side and you will be set

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Usually a lot of breaking waves are involved and it's easy to get disoriented.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Eh, I don't think anyone is looking at this thinking, man I'd like to try that rip current.

9 years ago | Likes 22 Dislikes 1

I love visiting the ocean and I ride them when I want to go out fast. You can find spots where you get pushed in and pulled out and enjoy it

9 years ago | Likes 1 Dislikes 0

I meant more that it might encourage less care than is required

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 1

As someone who can swim pretty well and who lives thousands of kilometers from a nearest, hell yeah this sounds intriguing.

9 years ago | Likes 9 Dislikes 5

Almost killed by one of these as a kid, it's like, not radical

9 years ago | Likes 8 Dislikes 1

You're not helping!

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 2

That is litterally what I was just thinking.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 2

A not very strong swimmer to escape in time even if they do everything correctly. Additionally there will usually be big waves in the escape

9 years ago | Likes 78 Dislikes 4

I think part of the problem is a lot of people under define "decent swimmer".

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

My now wife almost drowned when she told me she could swim 'a bit' when she couldnt AT ALL. Wanted to show her the area behind a waterfall

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0

I grew up around the ocean enough to know I'm a weak swimmer... but undertow just takes calm and patience, even in rough weather.

9 years ago | Likes 4 Dislikes 0

Path which will probably break on your head and try to drown you. In short - don't mess with the ocean!

9 years ago | Likes 51 Dislikes 3

Don't mess with the lake either! The great lakes have killed many people this way.

9 years ago | Likes 6 Dislikes 0

Lakes have rip tides?

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

The Great Lakes do. I live near Lake Michigan and the rip current takes people fairly regularly.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

If you have breaking waves you can expect rip tides

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

Damn straight, step 1 swim at a patrolled beach, step 2 do so between the red and yellow flags, step 3 if caught in a rip, DON'T PANIC

9 years ago | Likes 28 Dislikes 0

... Step one: Avoid the ocean. gotcha.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Step 1: grow up around ocean. Step 2: attend several funerals for drowning victims. Step 3: Swim parallel to shore and DON'T FUCKING PANIC.

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 0

I think step one is fucking learn to swim/

9 years ago | Likes 5 Dislikes 1

Good point, amend steps as necessary to represent this.

9 years ago | Likes 2 Dislikes 0

Yeah but even strong swimmers can and have drowned in the ocean.

9 years ago | Likes 3 Dislikes 0