February 2014 (ROTM#62) Yanchep Lagoon, Western Australia

Western Australia has some stunning beaches. Beautiful white sand, turquoise waters and of course sharks! But sharks aren't nearly as big a problem as rip currents. Since 2008, 17 people are known to have drowned in rip currents in WA as opposed to 7 fatalities due to sharks.

Yanchep Lagoon is a gorgeous beach about 1 hour north of Perth. It's fronted by a limestone reef which creates a nice 'safe' lagoon for kids and families, but there is almost always a strong longshore current that runs along the beach. If you don't pay attention you can be swept past the reef and out through the gap in what is a pretty notorious and consistent rip. You can see from the dye where the rip is heading, but you can also see a big 'bowl' carved out in the beach. The rip is pretty permanent and has eroded it out.

I was lucky enough to be invited out by Angela Tsun of Channel 7 News in Perth in January to do a 2 part story on the rip current hazard on Perth beaches. Part 1 can be watched here

Unusual rip. Strong reef control.