What is Rip Current

Visualization: Rip currents are an invisible enemy on the beach.

Rip currents are powerful currents that carry water away from the shore into the open sea. They occur quite frequently around the world.

They arise from the accumulation of water near the shore, which then finds narrow outlets through sandbanks or underwater channels.

On the surface, a rip current looks like a calm patch of water amongst the waves, but it is a deceptive calm.

How do you identify rip currents? Look out for areas where the color of the water is different, or for foam and debris being carried away from the shore.

What should you do if you are caught in a rip current? The main thing is not to panic or try to swim straight for shore.

You should swim parallel to the shore to get out of the current, and then swim diagonally back to the beach.