Most people caught in a rip were confident swimmers who misread the water. Take two minutes: test yourself, then walk through the escape sequence step by step.
Work through the ten statements below. Each tap gives instant feedback — at the end you'll get a score and tailored tips.
A rip is a narrow, fast-flowing channel of water running straight away from shore, fed by waves piling water up on the beach. Look for: a strip of darker, smoother water between breaking waves; floating debris or foam steadily moving out to sea; and a gap in the line of breaking waves, often near a sandbar, groyne or headland. Rips can appear on a calm sunny day and in small surf — they are not just a storm problem.
Fighting a rip by swimming straight back to shore is how strong swimmers exhaust themselves. The channel is usually only 10–30 m wide. Swim parallel to the beach until the pull stops, then angle diagonally in. If you can't get out, float, conserve energy and raise one arm to signal. Never try to tow another swimmer out unless you are trained.
Rips are strongest on an ebb tide near low water, on larger surf, and at steep, low-lying beaches with sandbars. Swimming between lifeguarded flags is the single best protection — most people caught in rips were swimming outside the flags.