Has anyone ever been in one? Staying afloat in the ocean is pretty easy, so I'm assuming you start to panic and that's what leads to the death of good swimmers. But what's it actually like?
Rip Currents
- Thread starter WayneDougan
- Start date
Was in the panhandle last week (Mexico beach) and the waves were unlike anything I’ve ever seen on the Gulf side, but you still were able to get in the water there. I read it was awful in PCB/Destin.
I think it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done. “Swim parallel to the shore” sounds cake until you feel like you’re being sucked under water.
I think it’s one of those things that’s easier said than done. “Swim parallel to the shore” sounds cake until you feel like you’re being sucked under water.
I have. It sucked. I would be dead if it was today and how out-of-shape I am compared to when I was 15.
It's been so long but what I do remember is you really don't have a choice to swim straight so I just followed the current and tried to cut back into it diagonally until I could feel sand. Probably too stupid at the time to realize how close I was to drowning because it took every bit of energy to work back in.
It's been so long but what I do remember is you really don't have a choice to swim straight so I just followed the current and tried to cut back into it diagonally until I could feel sand. Probably too stupid at the time to realize how close I was to drowning because it took every bit of energy to work back in.
Yeah we used to get them in Kiawah island and my brother and I were stupid and thought it was funny every time we ended up .5 mile from where we went in by the parents. They’re wild.
Knew a guy who was swimming with his friend and they got caught in one in the Destin area. His friend was bigger than him and started to really struggle. This guy has lifeguard experience and did some move where he got him on his back. They made it to a sandbar for a breather. Then a wave swept his friend back out.
He had to decide to search or swim back in. He went in and the lifeguard told him that they can’t do anything. He thought his friend was a goner. Fortunately the friend made it out and was way down the beach.
Those things are no joke. Obey the warning flags
He had to decide to search or swim back in. He went in and the lifeguard told him that they can’t do anything. He thought his friend was a goner. Fortunately the friend made it out and was way down the beach.
Those things are no joke. Obey the warning flags
Yes, you get behind them and put your arm around their neck and under their armpit like a high school wrestling headlock and swim back that way they can’t grab you or anything.
Best thing to do is stay upright and let it pull you out till the current kicks you out the draft of the suck, you should be good if you can swim halfway decent after that but just remember those opportunity feeders are always on the edge of rip for easy pickings 🍺
Imagine trying to swim vertically up Niagara Falls. And no, staying afloat in a rip current is not easy when you are getting hit by 3' or higher swells and you can't move.
I've done a ton of ocean swimming over the years and I've been in two rip currents...one in Aguadilla, PR and another one in the Gulf. Being a good swimmer won't help you if you try to fight the ocean. You must know what to actually do.
For God's sake...go with the flow and then tread water parallel to the beach. Relax as much as possible. Relax and keep your head above water but remember it's ok to go under for a bit just relax and grab air when you can. People die when they panic and look the beach is right there surely if I try hard enough I'll make it. No - you won't no matter how strong you are.
Caught a bad one in Santa Cruz when I lived in Cali. Wasn't surfing (pretty hostile scene there) but, yeah, like they say, don't fight it and you'll hit land/shallow eventually.
A lot of folks, who consider themselves strong swimmers (and they might be, in a POOL) find out, sometimes,too late, how huge of a difference ocean swimming is. IOW, if you're not positive you can swim for an hour out there, don't go past your f***ing waist.
A lot of folks, who consider themselves strong swimmers (and they might be, in a POOL) find out, sometimes,too late, how huge of a difference ocean swimming is. IOW, if you're not positive you can swim for an hour out there, don't go past your f***ing waist.
Panama City Beach now deadliest in America in 2023
A number of recent drownings have propelled Panama City Beach into the top spot as the deadliest beach in America.
'No rip currents' involved in Ryan Mallett's drowning at Destin beach, officials say
Details are emerging in the death of former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett, who was 35 years old when he drowned at a beach in Destin, Florida, on June 27.
Pretty sure he means that the locals don't like outsiders catching "their" waves.
I remember being 12 years old at the outer banks the day after a storm with the surf going crazy and my parents just saying “good luck out there”. The hell was wrong with them? ![[laughing]](http://l.yimg.com/j/assets/img/emoticons/classic/laugh.r191677.gif "Laughing [laughing]")
Here's a summary of a local Santa Cruz spot.
The hook - Surfing in Santa Cruz, United States of America - WannaSurf, surf spots atlas, surfing photos, maps, GPS location
WannaSurf - Free illustrated atlas of surf spots and surfing worldwide with maps of surf spots, detailed descriptions and photos. All the best weather and forecast maps. An interactive environment provides messages, reports and data editing.
www.wannasurf.com
Has Mexico Beach rebuilt since the hurricane devastation from a few years back? I went there once about 15 years ago and it was the quietest most relaxing beach trip I have ever been on. Back then you had to go to PCB to eat though because other than a Subway, pizza place and Toucan's there wasn't' much of anything in Mexico Beach.
Rebuilt but not back like it was. Still stuff under construction. Basically the same food wise… a few seafood trucks, subway, a pizza place.
Port St. Joe has a lot of places about 15 min down the road.
We’ve started going every year… love the relaxation and lack of stress involved in going there
Similar threads
