Florida Rip Currents (Daytona Beach, Oak Ridge: work, bars, moving)

[sunrico90]

Has anyone experienced rip currents?

A super rip current is creating dangerous waters for swimmers off the coast of Daytona Beach Thursday. The beach patrol at the Oak Ridge Road beach approach said it has been very busy rescuing people caught in the dangerous waters.

According to the beach patrol, water near the shore is chest-deep in some areas. Beyond that deep water there is a sand bar where the water is only knee-deep and beyond the sand bar, the water gets deeper again. However, In front of a lifeguard station, the sandbar drops off sharply, creating a 6- to 8-feet deep drop. After about 40 feet, the sandbar continues. The massive rip current is being created by the gap in the sandbar.

The beach patrol is guarding the area very carefully and has double staffed its towers in some place. In addition, there have been extra patrols by all terrain vehicles and trucks.

Wednesday, there were 20 rescues in the area of the large rip current. There were a total of 70 rescues along the entire beach. Even some of the lifeguards had to be rescued.

[macguy]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

Has anyone experienced rip currents?

A super rip current is creating dangerous waters for swimmers off the coast of Daytona Beach Thursday. The beach patrol at the Oak Ridge Road beach approach said it has been very busy rescuing people caught in the dangerous waters.

According to the beach patrol, water near the shore is chest-deep in some areas. Beyond that deep water there is a sand bar where the water is only knee-deep and beyond the sand bar, the water gets deeper again. However, In front of a lifeguard station, the sandbar drops off sharply, creating a 6- to 8-feet deep drop. After about 40 feet, the sandbar continues. The massive rip current is being created by the gap in the sandbar.

The beach patrol is guarding the area very carefully and has double staffed its towers in some place. In addition, there have been extra patrols by all terrain vehicles and trucks.

Wednesday, there were 20 rescues in the area of the large rip current. There were a total of 70 rescues along the entire beach. Even some of the lifeguards had to be rescued.

It can be very frightening if you get caught in one. You have to be a good swimmer to deal with it. They tell you to swim parallel to the shore till you get out of the current but you have no way of knowing which way to swim. It could be five yards if you swim one way and maybe thirty yards if you swim the other and you are another hundred yards out before you can begin to return to the shore. They can be dangerous.

[sponger42]

Rip currents are very useful for getting past the breakers on a big day when surfing. You just hop into one and after just a few strokes you're on the outside and can paddle out of it. From a surfboard or bodyboard, you can get a good perspective on the water and see the edges of the rip quite clearly.

Swimming, it's a different story. Rips move much faster than you can swim at any sustained rate. Basically, the best idea is to keep swimming parallel to the beach for a few minutes. Rips usually have turgid choppy water with small waves instead of big lined-up breakers. The water is sometimes cloudy, and you can sometimes see the edge of the rip if you look closely at the water's surface and observe the water moving in different directions. Rips are usually small and often only last a few minutes.

I've noticed that after a set of big waves come in, the rips are at their strongest because all that water the breaking waves dumped on the inside is now rushing out to sea.

The good news is, rips don't usually extend far beyond the outer sandbar. If you don't know which way to swim, just float and conserve your strength. You'll get carried far to the outside, but the water is calm out there and then you can work on swimming back to the beach. If there are surfers nearby, don't hesitate to ask them where the edge of the rip is. If you are in trouble, raise your right hand and keep it held high. (If someone near you is in trouble, raise your left) Shouting for help is a good idea unless it puts you in danger of sinking or tiring. Lifeguards will come to your aid as soon as they notice you.

If there aren't any lifeguards, and you aren't already very comfortable with all the hazards of the ocean, you shouldn't go in the water.

[SKB]

This gives an excellent example of a rip tide:

Rip Tides: a danger to swimmers

[oceandreams94]

WOw we have been hearing about this on the news! When the kids and I go to the beach, we have noticed the odd sandbars too! I had no idea that rips were caused by the sandbars.

Jen

[sunrico90]

Visit the following multiple pictures of rip currents...

Rip Current Background