Rip currents

Spotting and escaping a rip.

What a rip current is

A rip current is a narrow, fast channel of water flowing away from the beach. Waves push water up the beach; it has to flow back out, and it concentrates in gaps between sandbars and reefs or beside rocks and jetties.

Rips are strongest on beaches facing the swell, such as Grenada's Atlantic coast, and after long-period swell from distant storms. They can pull even strong swimmers away from shore.

How to spot one

A gap in the line of breaking waves.
A channel of darker, calmer-looking or churning water.
Foam, seaweed or sand moving steadily out to sea.

If you are caught

Stay calm and float. The rip will not pull you under.
Do not swim against the current.
Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the pull, then swim back at an angle.
If you cannot escape, float and wave and shout for help.

If you see someone in trouble

Call for help and throw something that floats. Do not swim out yourself unless you are trained: many people drown trying to rescue others.