How to spot a riptide?

Question

how do i spot a riptide, know when im in a riptide, and escape a riptide?

Answer 1

sometimes you can tell there is a rip because there will be a deeper channel sort of bit going out from the beach where the water is running out faster. there is usually less or smaller waves there as well i think. whatever you do DONT SWIM AGAINST IT you will only wear urself out.

Answer 2

Riptide can be spotted quite easily.  The riptide is usually in an area of lots of slushing around water.  When you see water moving in opposite directions of itself and spinning around parallel to the beach.If you are ever caught in one DO NOT FIGHT IT! The riptide will win every time.  Swim along with it and stay on your board.  Go parallel to the beach and at a slight degree inward.  When you are out of it there won't be a pull anymore and swim directly back to the beach and steer clear of the riptide, prefferrably just body surf your way in.

Answer 3

Rip where you can see the color change from a distance

http://www.usla.org/photo/default.asp?di...

Rip view from above

http://www.usla.org/photo/default.asp?di...

Answer 4

its hard to sea but as soon as you start to get pulled out swim  parallel to the beach and you will get out of it.

Answer 5

lol

Answer 6

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 ave 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 7

waves wont break in a riptide unless its big and u can c them on the surface of the water it goes all ripply but the harder 1s to c r the side rips that go across the beach bascialy a waste of time headn out u just paddle and dont catch S**t