What happens if you get caught in a riptide?

A rip current is a narrow, fast-moving channel of water that starts near the beach and extends offshore through the line of breaking waves. If you do get caught in a rip current, the best thing you can do is stay calm. It's not going to pull you underwater, it's just going to pull you away from shore.



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Here we debunk 7 myths about this dangerous phenomenon: Myth: A strong swimmer can outswim a rip current. Fact: Measured at speeds up to 8 feet per second (more than 5 miles per hour), rip currents can be faster than an Olympic swimmer. Myth: Rip currents pull people under water.

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Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii - Powerful Rip Currents Nestled in the Napali Coast of Kauai and only accessible by the Kalalau Trail, Hanakapiai Beach is one of the most dangerous places in the world to go swimming due to powerful rip currents and waves that are known to sweep people out to sea.

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The outgoing tide pulls fast moving currents of water from an inlet with a barrier beach out to sea. These rip tides can also happen near a river mouth, a lagoon or small bay. It is very dangerous to swim in these types of inlets. Sailors can use them to their advantage when they go with the flow of the current.

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