What is a "rip tide"?

Last week, 12 people died in a horrific seaside tragedy in the United Kingdom (UK). Their bodies were found washed up on the beach. It is a mystery how the people drowned to sea, but it seems they drowned and swept away to sea after getting caught up in a dangerous riptide.

A rip tide is a strong current that occurs when the tide pulls water through an inlet along a barrier beach. A rip tide is also called ebbing tide or tidal jets by coastal engineers and when such tide occurs the water flows strongly through an inlet toward the ocean. The tides carry with them a large amount of sand which form banks in the ocean against the inlet channel.

Riptides can also occur in constricted areas in lagoons and bays where the water flows slowly without any waves.

People often think that rip tide and rip current are the same thing, but both are different. Rip currents are powerful offshore flows which are caused by the broken waves pushing up water up the beach face.

Things to Be Known about Rip Tides

Both the rip tide and rip current are dangerous. Therefore, it is very important for surfers to know about the deadly riptide and how to survive if accidently caught in this killer phenomenon.

During the Rip Tide Awareness Week that held between June 5 and June 11, 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shared some information on rip tides and ripped currents.

Few clues to identify rip tides and rip currents:-

• A water channel with full of waves

• Great difference in the colors of the water in a particular area

• Formation of a line of foam and steady movement of seaweed or debris to seaward

• A break in the incoming wave pattern

• The calmest area of the sea is usually the most dangerous

If there is a possibility of rip tides or currents, then it is better to enter the water along wearing a lifeguard.

Measures to Be Taken If Caught in A Rip Tide:

• Don't panic if you ever get caught in a rip tide.

• The best way is to swim parallel to the beach.

• Don't waste your energy by swimming against the tide because you will not much progress.

• Try to make out the current is moving in which direction and swim to its right or left direction, not against it.