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Dangers at sea, currents from the shore. Water that destroys lives: the most dangerous current

Many people who feel great in water do not understand how it is possible to drown not far from the sea or ocean shore. Most believe that in such cases alcohol intoxication is to blame, but sometimes we are talking about a completely different phenomenon - a rip current.

Here's what it looks like schematically. The picture shows a reverse current towards the sea, it goes perpendicular to the shore:
A rip current, or, as foreigners also call it, rip current, is one of the most dangerous phenomena. It is in these currents that both ordinary people and first-class swimmers drown, because they simply do not know how to behave.

You try to resist the current to swim out, but nothing works. A couple of moments, and panic begins...

The most dangerous for people are the rip currents of shallow seas with a flat, low-lying coast, which is framed by sand spits, shoals and islands (Gulf of Mexico, Sea of Azov, etc.). In this case, during low tide, masses of water cannot gradually return to the open sea due to the sand spit holding them back. The water pressure on the narrow strait connecting the estuary with the sea is increasing sharply. In this place a rapid is formed, along which the water rushes back into the sea at high speed (up to 2.5-3.0 m/sec), forming, as it were, a river in the middle of the sea

It looks like a river:

Such corridors appear anywhere on the beach, near the shore, during high tides. The waves, one after another, roll in and bring more and more water, then at different speeds they go back to the sea or ocean, forming a reverse current.

In this photograph, the flows of boiling water are not so clearly visible, but the current itself and, unfortunately, the people caught in it are clearly visible:

How can we identify this current so as not to fall into it? Pay attention to the following identification marks:

A visible channel of rushing water perpendicular to the shore.

A coastal zone with a changed color of water (say, everything around is blue or green, and some area is white).

An area of foam, some kind of marine vegetation, bubbles, which is steadily moving from the shore into the open sea.

A gap in the general structure of tidal waves (a continuous strip of waves, and a 5-10-meter gap in the middle).

If you see any of the things described, consider yourself lucky and just don't go swimming in that place. What if you don’t see any of the 4 signs? This means that you are out of luck, because 80% of dangerous spontaneously occurring rips do not manifest themselves visually.

Rip currents occur near the shore. That is, even if you are standing in water up to your waist, and even more so up to your chest, you can be picked up by a rip and carried into the sea. But that’s exactly what those who don’t know how to swim do - they just stand in the water and enjoy.

Therefore, do not swim alone and, of course, do not ignore red flags and signs on the beach.

Rules of conduct in rip currents:
1 Don't panic!

When we panic, we are guided by the instinct of self-preservation rather than relying on sound reasoning. Knowing about the rules of behavior in rip, in 100 cases out of 100 you will get out.

2 Save energy!

Don't fight the current or row back to shore. Unfortunately, this is of no use. You need to row not towards the shore, but to the side (that is, parallel to the shore). If the rip is narrow (up to 5 meters), you will get out of it quickly.

3 If the rip is wide (20 meters or more), what should I do?

You won’t be able to get out of it so easily, even if you row according to the rules - to the side. Once you realize that you can’t get out, you can relax, but don’t panic! The fact is that the reverse current is short-lived, and after about 5 minutes it will stop and leave you alone. After this, swim 50-100 meters, first to the side, and only then to the shore. If you immediately swim to the shore, there is a chance that the current will resume in the same place and you will fall into it again

It is important to consider the following points:
1 Rip will never drag you down.

This is not a whirlpool or a funnel. All the rip currents in the world drag from the shore along the surface, but not to the depths!

2 The rip is not too wide.

Usually its width does not exceed 50 meters. And most often it is limited to only 10-20 meters. That is, after swimming literally 20-30 meters along the shore, you will feel like you have swum out of a rip.

3 Rip length is limited.

The current will weaken quite quickly, the channel ends its “work” where the waves reach their peak and begin to break. In surfer's language this place is called "line up". This is where all the surfers usually hang out and try to ride the incoming waves. Usually this is no more than 100 meters from the shore.

4 Please tell your friends about this phenomenon. Let as many people as possible know about rip currents. By doing this, you will save not only your life, but also other people.

Last time I wrote about the Taj Mahal, which is located in Agra (see), but now it is a very serious topic and if you are going to relax on the sea coast, be sure to read it to the end. We will talk about such a phenomenon as rip. What it is?

Surely many have heard about how one of the tourists drowned in the sea or ocean, and some were even eyewitnesses of such tragedies. During the six months that I lived in Varkala (India), six people drowned in this way, and everything happened not somewhere in the open sea, but not far from the shore.

What all these cases have in common is that almost all of them were good swimmers and managed well in the water. The tragedy is that none of them knew about such a phenomenon as rip - rip current in English.

So, this is a rip or rip current. To understand how to deal with it and what to do, you need to understand what it is and how it arises.

What is rip

Rip currents - rips - are currents that arise in shallow water, perpendicular and back to the shore. The waves rush towards the shore, but large masses do not have time to return back, and in different places in the sandy bottom, under the pressure of water, channels appear, along which the water flows back into the sea.

That is, rips are formed in cases where strong water pressure appears on the shore, a rapid appears and water rushes from the shore at high speed - 3.0 m/sec, a kind of temporary river on the seashore.

This can be seen schematically in the picture:

This is what the river looks like:

Rip currents are not constant, they can appear in different places, and after some time, disappear without a trace.

They vary in width and length. Sometimes these are narrow corridors 2-3 meters wide, but sometimes such a river reaches 100 meters. The length of rips is very rarely more than 300-400 meters.

People who have lived on the coast for a long time already know how to determine the occurrence of another rip by external signs. The water in them differs in color from other areas; if on both sides it is blue or green, in the area of the rip current it may be whitish and foaming.

It is also possible to see how the waves hit the shore everywhere, but in some one place it is calm, most often this is the place of the rip current.

Tourists are another matter; some have not even heard of such a dangerous natural phenomenon, and they, especially those who are poor swimmers, try to enter the water in places that are “calm” at first glance. They also expose themselves to danger, since even if they go waist-deep into the water, they can get caught in a powerful stream that will pull them into the open sea.

What to do if you get into a rip?

But now the most important thing. Experienced people have fallen into a rip current and escaped safely because they knew how to get out of it correctly.

These rules are the most important when swimming; in my personal opinion, such reminders should be distributed by tour operators sending people on sea holidays.

I would also advise you not to swim in the sea-ocean alone, try to go ashore with one of your friends or fellow travelers. If you are going alone, choose not a deserted place, but one where there is at least someone on the shore.

Where do rips often occur?

Judging by information from the Internet, rip currents most often appear in the Mediterranean Sea, especially off the coast of Israel and North Africa. There are small rips in the Azov and Black Seas.

But most often they write about rip currents in the Indian Ocean; it seems to me that I observed exactly the rip in Varkala. They often visit Goa and every year one of the tourists drowns there.

Rip currents are also frequent in Sri Lanka and Indonesia, often mentioned, perhaps because there are more tourists there, because if no one drowned, then they don’t even remember about the dangerous rip current, however, you definitely need to know about it.

If your friends are going on a sea holiday, be sure to share this information with them, perhaps you will save their life.

The video about rips is in English, but it seems to me that everything in it is clear without words.

According to beach lifeguards, in various cities of Thailand, Russian tourists, like no one else, ignore the rules of behavior on open water, as a result of which incidents involving them are the most common. That is why we want to talk in detail about the danger that sometimes lurks in the azure coastal waters of the kingdom.

Underwater currents, or, as they are designated on warning signs, Rip current, can pose a great danger to a swimmer even at a close distance from the shore (at a depth of waist-deep, and sometimes ankle-deep). In a matter of seconds, they are capable of carrying even the most experienced and strong swimmer far into the open sea. RIPs can be the result of ebbs and flows, or arise due to subsidence of underwater soil, or are formed from monsoon winds - there are many options and sometimes it is very difficult to predict them.

What is the danger?

There are several options for the development of events, depending on how far the person is from the shore.

The most common is when those who want to splash around in the depths swim far from the shore. After the swimmers have thoroughly enjoyed the open sea, they try to return, but realize that no matter how hard they try, they are not only not getting closer, but are moving even further away from the shore.
Another option is when, at shallow depths (from ankle to waist), swimmers realize that they are simply unable to get out of the water, and the so-called “squeeze” current (which occurs when a wave rolls away from the shore) draws them to ever greater depths, and from there to the open sea.
And finally, the third option, when vacationers, also at shallow depths, frolic in the surf and do not monitor its interval. In this case, the first unnoticed wave knocks the swimmer off his feet, the second covers him, depriving him of oxygen and dragging him to greater depths. The man tries to get up, but the next wave covers him again and pulls him away. At some point, the drunk, exhausted and completely disoriented swimmer realizes that there is no bottom under his feet, and he is swept out to sea.

Why do we describe these situations in such detail?

The fact is that even though Russia is washed by 13 seas, the majority of residents of our country are simply not familiar with the nature and laws of the world ocean. It is very difficult for a person who has never lived by the sea to understand how one can drown while knee-deep in water?

In addition, many of our compatriots consider themselves very experienced and strong swimmers - they swim a kilometer in the pool every day in their homeland or even have a sports rank in swimming. And therefore they will definitely cope with some kind of current there.

Still others naively believe that such things can happen to anyone, but not to them. The Russian mentality is very often exacerbated by the influence of alcoholic drinks, without which many cannot imagine resting. The result of all this is a large proportion of Russian tourists among those who drowned off the coast of Thailand.

The case with the girl

For those who still doubt the cunning of the king of the sea, we will give an absolutely incredible story of one girl who decided to take a photo on the shore, standing ankle-deep in water, at a time when the beach was closed for swimming.

In a series of five photographs taken over a period of 30 seconds, one can clearly see how the first wave begins to pull the posing girl into the sea, while the second one is already coming from behind, knocking her off her feet and pulling her even further. In the next frame we see a girl who is completely in the swirling water, already a few meters from the place where she was photographed.

The girl was saved. But there was a lot of commotion on the beach.

How do you know it's okay to swim?

With our article we do not want to say that you cannot swim in Thailand, this is not true. You can and should swim, but first ask local residents and beach workers about the danger and carefully monitor the behavior of the ocean.

Many beaches today have special signs indicating the presence of Rip current. If red flags are posted, this means that swimming is strictly prohibited. Remember, you will not be forcibly held on shore, as they do, for example, in Vietnam. But know that by getting into the water, you risk not only your life, but also the lives of rescuers or other people who, if something happens, will rush to your aid.

It is most likely to fall into the clutches of an undercurrent during the monsoons, which arrive at a certain time. In Phuket, for example, it is May-October. Also, due to different underwater landscapes, beaches have different likelihood of such phenomena occurring. Again, in Phuket, Karon, Surin, Kata, Kata Noi and Nai Harn have a bad reputation in this regard.

Rules of conduct on the water

Before entering the water, make sure the beach is open for swimming (red flags indicate that swimming is prohibited);
Don't swim behind the buoys;
Children should never swim alone at a beach where there may be countercurrent currents;
Follow the wave cycle. Always keep them in sight;
When leaving the sea, make sure that the waves coming from behind do not knock you off your feet;
Have a safety pin in your swim trunks in case your arm or leg cramps.

If you get caught in a Rip current and are carried away from the shore

Don't try to fight the elements. The very first thing you must do is control yourself and deal with panic.
Notice the landmarks on the shore so you can figure out where to return later.
You can choose any of the ways to deal with RIP:

1. Next, slowly, saving energy, begin to swim along the shore, i.e. perpendicular to the flow.
2. Start rowing towards the shore only when you feel that you have swam out of the current or have found yourself in a countercurrent carrying you towards the shore. Be prepared for the fact that you will have to swim quite a lot (300-400 meters, and possibly a kilometer).

Swimming in the coastal waves:

Ocean waves are longer and more powerful than sea waves. For those who are used to swimming in the sea, this sometimes becomes an unpleasant surprise.
If you do not know the features of the bottom (you can familiarize yourself with it at low tide), do not go into the sea in the waves. This can result in serious injury.
Always notice the cycle of waves and keep them in sight.
If a wave knocks you down and spins you underwater, hold your breath and relax. This way you will save oxygen, and your cerebellum will quickly understand where is down and where is up. When surfacing, remember the wave interval.

Have a safe holiday!

Many people who swim well or stay afloat well do not understand how they can drown close to the shore. When they hear news reports during the holiday season about tourists "died near the shore", they think that the victims either did not know how to swim or were intoxicated. But they are wrong. What then is the reason?

We are talking about a very dangerous, but little-known phenomenon - rip currents, which are often also called “rip currents”. There are rip currents in all corners of the planet, in the Gulf of Mexico, the Black Sea, and the island of Bali. Not only ordinary people, but also first-class swimmers who do not know how to behave in this situation can not cope with these insidious rips.

Everything happens unexpectedly: you swam from the shore, and then turned back, but nothing works out... You swim with all your might, but you remain in one place or even move further away. All attempts are unsuccessful, your strength is running out and you are close to panic...

To begin with, it is important to understand the principle of rip operation. This is a type of sea and ocean currents directed at right angles to the shore and formed in the process of the flow of rising water moving towards the sea.

The most dangerous are considered to be rip currents in shallow seas with a flat coast, which is framed by sandbanks, spits and islands (the Sea of Azov, etc.). In these places, during low tide, sand spits prevent the return of the mass of water to the sea. The water pressure on the narrow strait connecting the sea with the estuary increases many times over. As a result, a fast flow is formed, through which water moves at a speed of 2.5-3.0 m/s.

These “corridors” appear in different places near the coast during high tides. Waves roll in and bring a mass of water, and then go into the sea or ocean at different speeds, forming a reverse current. This is observed in areas where the tides frequently ebb and flow.

In the attached photo with a red arrow, the flows of boiling water are not so visible, but the current itself and the people caught in it are clearly visible.

Most often, the width of the rip is 2-3 m, and the current speed is 4-5 km/h, which is not dangerous.
But periodically there are “drafts” up to 50 m wide, up to 200-400 m long and with a speed of up to 15 km/h! This happens much less often. But it happens!
How can you learn to distinguish places where there are rips so as not to fall into them? First of all Pay attention to the following characteristic signs:

The visible channel of rushing water is perpendicular to the shore;

In the coastal zone there are areas with a different shade of water: for example, everything around is light blue or greenish, and some area is white. Areas with foam, moving seaweed and bubbles that move from the shore into the open sea;
There is a 5-10 meter gap in the continuous strip of tidal waves;

If you notice any of the above, never swim in this area. But the danger is that 80% of sudden rips do not manifest themselves outwardly. It is in their “tenacious clutches” that most tourists fall. Only professional rescuers can identify such areas.

It is important to remember that rip currents often occur near the shore, so they can even pull in people standing in waist-deep or chest-deep water. And if swimmers have a great chance of survival, then people who cannot swim have a critically low chance of survival. Therefore, do not swim alone and do not enter places that seem suspicious to you.

Give preference to busy beaches where lifeguards are on duty.

And always pay attention to red flags and signs on the beach in areas where swimming is strictly prohibited. This is not a joke!

And the most important moment! How should those caught in such a current behave?

Rules of conduct in rip currents

1. Overcome panic! Pull yourself together, because people who know the rules of behavior in rip are saved in 99% of cases.

2. Save your strength! There is no need to row with all your might against the current, losing energy reserves. You need to swim not to the shore, but to the side, parallel to the beach. If the rip is narrow (up to 5 m), you will get out of it very quickly.

3. Analyze! If you row according to the rules - to the side, but cannot get out, then the rip is wide (from 20 m or more). Then immediately stop wasting energy and panicking! The reverse flow is usually short-lived and will stop after 3-4 minutes. After this, swim 50-100 m to the side, and only then return to the shore with breaks.

The following facts will help you avoid panic:

Rip won't drag you down. Most often, rip currents are short and the upper layer of water moves at high speed, which supports floating objects.

The rip is not particularly wide. Its width does not exceed 50 m. And in most cases it is only 10-20 m. As a result, after swimming literally 20-30 m along the shore, you will notice that you have swam out of the rip.

Rip length is limited. The current weakens quite quickly, the “dragon” loses its strength where the waves reach their peak and begin to break. In surfer slang this place is called “line up”. This is where all the surfers gather, preparing to conquer the incoming waves. Usually the “line up” is located no further than 100 m from the shore.

Sometimes the danger is so close that you don’t even suspect it. This is exactly what can be said about the most dangerous current, which is called a rip current. It is this that most often takes the lives of people who seem to know how to swim; moreover, such currents occur right off the coast. According to rescuers, they are the cause of most accidents.

A current that can carry away even experienced swimmers

Rips are also called rip currents or rip currents. Because of them, a person can end up in the sea in just a few seconds! Most often, tugs appear where you don’t expect them at all: on shallow beaches with a gently sloping low-lying shore and sandy spits, both in the ocean and in the sea.

And so an unsuspecting person rejoices in the sea and the sun, splashing in the water, when suddenly an unknown force begins to drag him away from the shore. Of course, the first reaction is to row to shore. The swimmer rows hard, but does not approach the coast even an inch. But fighting the sea is not an easy task, and even experienced swimmers run out of strength after a few minutes.

Surprise of appearance

Rip currents usually appear spontaneously. The main reason for their appearance is large masses of water that have accumulated in shallow water. They go out to sea along a peculiar trajectory: not in a wide front, but as if along a trench, somewhat reminiscent of a river that heads far out to sea. The wider this trench is (and it can be from 3 to 20 meters wide), the higher the flow speed will be (up to 3 m/s). And such a flow can take with it not only a child, but even a heavyweight.

How to calculate rip current

In fact, it is quite simple to understand whether there is a rip current. And here are the main signs:

a gap of up to 5-10 meters is visible in the surf line (in rare cases up to 50 meters);
if waves encounter the shore with identical foam caps, but in one area there are no such waves, this is the same rip current;
a real river has appeared near the shore, bubbling and seething, and in it floats various organic debris that carries from the shore;
a path of water of a different color, which differs from the general sea expanse of a homogeneous sea (that is, for example, the entire sea is turquoise, but there is a white path).

How to get out of a rip

But still, if by chance the rip current could not be seen in advance and you are already being carried out to the open sea, what to do then?

Firstly, do not panic and even relax, let the current carry you out to sea. In most cases, people start rowing against the current, and this is the biggest mistake. Moreover, it will not carry you far: 100-150 meters, no more. And it is not capable of dragging you under water, since the rip is at the very surface. Therefore, it is better to spend the saved energy on the way back to the shore. As the current begins to weaken, you need to swim to the shore, but strictly perpendicular to the current, and after swimming a hundred meters away from it, you can safely return to the shore. Why to the side, you ask? Because there is a possibility that the current will return to the same place.

Well, if it happened that the width of the current was very large and it dragged you too far into the sea, and your strength was running out, then the only option was to wait for rescuers. To do this, it is better to lie on your back and raise one arm, since in this position you can relax and stay on the water longer. Well, a raised hand will be a kind of beacon for rescuers.