Is there any safe depth in the ocean to not get caught in a riptide?

Question

My grandkids are coming to visit and I'm worried about the safety of them going in the ocean with boogie boards, Am I being unrealistic?

Answer 1

big rips can be very dangerous. most people know the score... if you get caught in one, swim parallel to the shore.

rips are basically rivers leading from the shore to sea. they're great in aiding surfers get out to the back of the waves but are very unfriendly to swimmers.

i know that in a kayak they don't have much of an effect as the boat floats higher on the water offering less resistance but maybe someone else could support me on this point with regards body boards.

but if your on a public beach with lifegards you shouldn't have to worry. the presence of lifeguards shows that it is a safe swimming beach (lifegards wouldn't endorse swimming on a dangerous beach)

Answer 2

Riptides can occur on any beach.

But they occur more often with a rising tide.  They are visible since they carry some sand with them, and appear as a long, wide slightly sandy colored slow moving current, moving straight out from the beach.  They will tend to make the waves form an outward V, with the point further from shore. Being in front of that V is where you especially want to stay away from.

I was cuaght in one at least twice, once at age 7 and once at 46.   I recall that at 7, it was very upsetting to have no one want to help me, and just yelled for me to "swim around it".  

At 46, I was way out (in the V !), maybe 65 yds, and another swimmer 10 yds closer in called for help as he cramped.  It wore me out getting to him.  I tried to help him in, but had to lie back and rest.  I had on a hat with strap, and waved for help.  This was in Central America.  Three of the skinniest lifeguards I've ever seen came racing out to help us.  I swam in holding a float with one lifeguard, the other two lifeguards helped the man who had been cramping.

Just help them to know how to spot them, and they need to be more careful when its high tide and it is going out.  If they ride where th waves break straight across, they should be ok.

On boogie boards they are a lot safer than bodysurfing, because they cann rest on the boards. But they still need to be strong swimmers.  A wave can still dump them and hold them under for 10-20 seconds.