How do you survive a riptide?


How do you survive a riptide? Trying to swim against a rip current will only use up your energy; energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. Do NOT try to swim directly into to shore. Swim along the shoreline until you escape the current's pull. When free from the pull of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward shore.


What does a riptide feel like?

Rip currents do not pull people under the water; they pull people away from shore. The rip current is typically the strongest about a foot off of the bottom, which can cause your feet to be knocked out from under you making it feel like something under the water was pulling you.


Are riptides scary?

The outgoing tide pulls fast moving currents of water from an inlet with a barrier beach out to sea. These rip tides can also happen near a river mouth, a lagoon or small bay. It is very dangerous to swim in these types of inlets. Sailors can use them to their advantage when they go with the flow of the current.


Is it hard to escape a riptide?

Generally speaking, a riptide is less than 100 ft. wide, so swimming beyond it should not be too difficult. If you cannot swim out of the riptide, float on your back and allow the riptide to take you away from shore until you are beyond the pull of the current. Rip currents generally subside 50 to 100 yards from shore.


What beach has the worst rip currents?

Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii - Powerful Rip Currents Nestled in the Napali Coast of Kauai and only accessible by the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Beach is one of the most dangerous places in the world to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.