Rip currents – more commonly called rips – are strong currents of water flowing away from the shore.
Most beaches have rips, and they’re one of the biggest hazards at our beaches. They can change suddenly, and are often tricky to spot.
Some of the signs of a rip include:
- Darker water with no or fewer breaking waves
- A rippled surface surrounded by smooth water
- Foamy, sandy or discoloured water, or objects floating away from the shore.
Not all rips show all these signs. If in doubt, stay out of the water.
If you get caught in a rip:
- Stay calm and raise your arm for help
- If you’re on a board, stay with it
- DO NOT try to swim against the rip. If you start to get tired, try floating.
- Relax and let the rip carry you away from shore until it gets weaker. You can then swim sideways (parallel to the beach) or towards breaking waves and head back to shore once you’re out of the rip.
To learn more about rips, visit Beachsafe or Dr Rip’s Science of the Surf.
Follow the links below to watch the above video with subtitles in different languages: