January 2018 (ROTM#109) Stanwell Park, NSW, Australia
This rip of the month is a little different as it's time to talk about how rips flow and how this can influence what you should do if you find yourself caught in a rip current. This image is taken from stills from the National Geographic (Australia) documentary 'Rip Current Heroes' and shows a release of purple dye at Stanwell Park taken by a drone by the University of Wollongong during some filming I was doing with them earlier this year.
The graphics show the basic types of rip current circulation patterns. The image on the left shows that in many cases rip flow will re-circulate in rotating eddies with the water essentially being trapped in the surf zone. If you were caught in a rip current that was re-circulating, probably the best option would be to just relax and float and in a matter of minutes the rip would eventually re-circulate you into shallow water where you can stand up and make your way back to the beach. The image on the right shows that if the rip flows beyond the surf zone (often when a rip 'pulses') then you really only have two options. One is to swim along the beach a fair ways and then back in. This could be quite challenging if you aren't a good swimmer and are already tired and scared. The other option is just to stay afloat and signal for help from lifeguards or surfers or someone on the beach.
The problem is that you have no idea what the rip is going to do. Rip current flow is extremely variable over time and it's impossible for the average person stuck in a rip to know how they are going to circulate. Sometimes swimming out of a rip can work, but only if you are a good swimmer. I still think the best thing to do is just to relax, stay afloat and signal for help. Of course, the best thing to do is don't get caught in a rip in the first place! Always swim between the red and yellow flags on a beach patrolled by lifeguards or lifesavers in Australia (and New Zealand, the UK and South Africa) or swim near lifeguards in other parts of the world. If you do go in the water on a beach with no lifeguards and lots of breaking waves, you really need to spend some time thinking about whether it's safe to swim, if conditions are within your abilities, and whether there are rips or dangerous waves around. Learn how to spot rips! If in doubt, don't go out and if you do, don't go beyond waist depth if you are not a confident swimmer.
'Rip Current Heroes' will be airing throughout the summer on the National Geographic Channel in Australia and New Zealand, but the only two times I know for sure at this stage are Jan 8 at 8:30 am and Jan 25 at 7:30 PM (both Australian Eastern Time).
Rips are going to flow in one of two ways….