Rip Tides and Ocean Swimming
What to look out for
You may see many signs warning you about rip tides and saying “Look out for calm waters” -but what do they actually mean?
Rip tides can be identified by looking for areas where no waves break. Watch for a few minutes as sometimes waves break in sets of around 10. The rip tide area will have an eerily calm surface that doesn’t match the surface of the surrounding waves. The rip is a strong current that takes water out to sea. The waves are unable to break over the current.
Surfers use the breaks between normal sets of waves to paddle out to sea depending on the prevailing currents. Otherwise, surfers use rip tides to carry them out to sea. Don’t be fooled by the movements of surfers as they are often strong swimmers and benefit from the buoyancy of their boards. When swimming in the ocean, keep to the waves and check the local tide times. Ask a local, a surfer or a lifeguard about the currents. To be absolutely safe, SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS.
Sharky Water
Surfers often talk about the ocean looking “sharky” –that is, when the weather is overcast and the waters choppy. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t see any other swimmers or surfers, don’t go out. Areas such a Fraser Island are notorious for harbouring large schools of sharks.
Check with locals, lifeguards or tourist information before swimming in case of jellyfish migration to your swimming area. The stingers around the town of 1770 are usually present between November and April. Blue Bottles (as seen on Bondi Rescue) often swim out to sea in the morning and then back in during the afternoon. On patrolled beaches, lifeguards will often put out warning signs if there are many jellyfish about. However, global warming is changing the patterns of jellyfish infestation and you should always check the local conditions before venturing into the water.
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