How do you spot rip tides?

Question

I can't tell when their there and when not. I dont' want to be carreid away to my death.

Answer 1

An easier way to spot them, besides the sandy brown column perpendicular to the beach, is that they will push the wave line into a V, with the deep part in deeper water and in the middle of the rip.  That's the worst place to be, since it is the head of the rip.  It appears like a more distant breaking wave, offering a better ride.  Stay away from that deeper V wave, look for one breaking in a straight line in front of you.

Iv'e been in a few, and only needed rescue assistance once. The time I was assisted, I stayed with another guy who was cramping up, and we both ended up needing help getting back in.

Answer 2

The link below is a pretty fair description of a rip tide and what do do about it. Rips are pretty subtle. Once you get to know the particular beach, you get to know where the rips show up, and on what tide or wind conditions.

Rips can be very fast, and they take the unwary way out real fast. You really can't swim against them, and that's when people tend to panic. It's the resulting panic and exhaustion that gets 'em. If you stay calm, you can actually end up getting dumped out it. Never try to swim against it, either swim parallel to the beach, or on a diagonal toward the shoreline.

If one takes you out past the breakers, swim in diagonally until you can start to use the wave action to help you. On most protected beaches, rips are cause for hundreds of quick rescues every summer.

If you are surfing, you are on a little 'boat' and a decent paddler shouldn't have any problem with a rip. Sometimes you notice you are in one when you are sitting in the line-up, and then almost unnoticed, you find yourself twenty yards further outside. In that case, just paddle back in closer to the break zone.

I have been swimming, body surfing, body boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing for years. I was swimming in the ocean by the time I was in first or second grade (that's almost 50 years!). Develop good water skills, and pay attention to your surroundings and you won't have too much to worry about.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current

Here's abit of another link. looks like good info.

http://www.usla.org/ripcurrents/ripcurre...

How to Identify Rip Currents

Look for any of these clues:

a channel of churning, choppy water

an area having a notable difference in water color

a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward

a break in the incoming wave pattern

None, one, or more of the above clues may indicate the presence of rip currents. Rip currents are often not readily or easily identifiable to the average beachgoer. For your safety, be aware of this major surf zone hazard. Polarized sunglasses make it easier to see the rip current clues provided above.

(from the USLA link - NOT READILY OR IDENTIFIABLE EASLIY IDENTIFIABLE FOR THE AVERAGE BEACH GOER)

Answer 3

they are the dirty sandy parts in the ocean that you see were it is almost like  path going into the ocean...if you ever get caught in one just remember not to swim directly back to shore you have to swim PARALLEL to is swim down with the current and then go back to shore. if you try and swim through the current you will just tire yourself out

Answer 4

I was once caught in a rip tide with my mom. It was TERRIFYING! There was a sandbar a few meters of shore that a lot of people were playing on but my mom and I walked over to a ditch that was deeper. There was water flowing through it and you could see a little path of water going out into the ocean. We didn't notice we were being carried out until we were not able to swim forward at all. My mom had a hurt ankle which she couldn't use which made it that much harder to get out. Eventually we did, it was just a very traumatic experience. BASICALLY: If there is a sandbar stay away from deeper ditches and look for streams heading farther out.

Answer 5

aww, andrew, what are the chances of that happening?  well, my answer is what the guy above said ^. hehe :)

Answer 6

the reason rip tides are so dangerous is because they are really hard to see. if you get in one just swim parallel to the beach and you will get out.