Swim parallel to the beach - NOT AGAINST THE CURRENT DIRECTLY TOWARD THE BEACH. When you get out of the rip tide area, then you can swim back toward the beach.
If you try to swim against the current, you will lose and you will die.
STAY OUT OF WATER IN THE FIRST PLACE
Yep. This cannot be repeated enough.
Typically, how far do you have to swim to escape it?
Exactly. The problem is people panic.
I got caught in a rip tide at the Manhattan Beach in California once, and I started to panic at first then I realized what was happening and started swimming parallel to the beach and was able to get out of the rip tide in about 100 yards. Scary, I tell you.
actually just let it pull you out and it will eventually allow easier swimming ... even trying to swim parallel to the beach can exhaust some people.
It’s just a panic that set in with the velocity and force of the water going out.