What Is a Rip Current?

When waves push water toward the shore, it must flow back out. If this return flow concentrates through a gap in a sandbar, it creates a rip current — a narrow jet moving at up to 2.5 metres per second (faster than most swimmers). Rip currents are typically 10–30 metres wide and extend 30–100 metres offshore. They are the leading cause of surf-zone drownings worldwide, responsible for roughly 80% of surf rescues in the United States. The key to survival is swimming parallel to shore until free of it, rather than fighting directly against the current.