Posted on 07/22/2018 6:05:37 PM PDT by Freedom'sWorthIt
It’s not that difficult to actually see a rip current from the beach, they’re caused by sandbars out beyond the breakers having a very narrow channel then water rushes through and out to sea. If a given section of surf looks odd, waves behaving in a manner that is different from adjacent sections and the water looks churned up or particularly murky don’t go into the water there.
Even shore birds will give you a clue, there are often more of them circling above a rip current. Often more over sharks or blues too, for that matter, hoping a bite of whatever they’re having will float to the surface.
I learned the Outer Banks in the mid 70’s. I was a good swimmer.
It will kick your ass. Be careful out there.
Wow, Blackdog, that is way out, 2 miles! Yikes. I winter down by Melbourne, and having never been caught in a really bad rip current, always wondered about how far out one could get pulled.
Were you pulled out that far against your will by the rip current, or did you just sort of allow yourself to go with the flow for a while without attempting to escape it out of youthful fearlessness? Or are some rip currents really 2 miles in length? (I had no idea a rip current could drag one out 2 miles from shore) I’m so curious, I want to understand the nature of the enemy, so to speak, so that when I go swimming down there I better understand the nature of this danger. . . Thank you for sharing.
We go to Nags Head alot.
I don’t go very far out for this reason. And the sharks on the sound side make me curious.
I loved going out there but the traffic is so bad getting on and off during regular hours. I've learned to arrive early in the morning even if my place is not available until later that afternoon. Same when leaving - I will leave before sunrise!
I used to swim out past the reefs and you would get pulled out in certain spots with strong currents especially near the inlets. So yes I just passively rode it out. I mean why fight it and tire yourself?
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