Beware the Rip Currents!

• During Costa Rica’s Holy Week of 2024, it was reported that 327 people were rescued from the surf, of whom 206 were hospitalized. Sadly, 34 people drowned.
• It is thought that between 150 – 200 people drown in Costa Rica every year.
• Drowning is the leading accidental cause of death amongst foreigners and second leading accidental cause of death amongst Ticos/as.
• More than 80% of Costa Rica’s drownings are attributed to RIP CURRENTS.

YOU CAN BE TAKEN IN SECONDS

Imagine standing in just-above waist-deep water of a local beach when an unremarkable wave washes through you, but unlike the previous waves this one does not retreat – and now you are in chest deep water. Seconds later, another wave hits and now you are floating, unable to feel the ground under you. The water finally starts to flow back towards the ocean but, to your horror, it is taking you too – you can see the beach getting further and further away. This happened to me, at Playa Ventanas, earlier this year and the culprit is a killer of beachgoers around the world – the feared RIP CURRENT. In 10 seconds I went from walking along in waist-deep water to being swept out to sea, and after the first wave, there was nothing I could have done about being taken by the rip. The incident inspired this article. 

Costa Ballena tourists and visitors often stress about spiders, scorpions or snakes. But the threat posed by the critters pales in comparison to the thing everyone – be it tourist or local – should truly worry about: being caught, unaware, in a ‘rip’. These currents are permanent features of many local beaches and knowing how to spot them and what to do if you are caught in one can literally be the difference between life and death.

WHAT ARE RIP CURRENTS?

Simply, a rip current (different from a rip tide) is a narrow and powerful movement of water which occurs near beaches where waves break. Like a river flowing out to sea, a rip current flows from the edge of the water back into the deeps of the ocean, cutting through the breaking waves. And they are fast – often flowing faster than an Olympic swimmer.

Rip currents form when waves and wind drive water towards the shore – this water piles up until it reaches a critical mass and begins to flow back to the open water via a route of minimal resistance – such as a break between underwater sandbars. The sideways flow of the piled-up water, very close to the shore, creates FEEDER currents. These feeder currents converge and turn towards the ocean, forming the RIP CURRENT. The rip current’s NECK is an area of fastest flow of water. Once the rip current flows past the breakers, the flow disperses sideways, the current loses power and eventually dissipates, releasing all the floating items it has been carrying. This area is called the HEAD of the current.

A rip current is strongest near the surface and, despite common myths, it won’t pull you under—it pulls you away from shore. These currents aren’t limited to oceans; they can form in any body of water with breaking waves, including lakes and seas. Staying informed and alert is key to staying safe.

HOW TO SPOT A RIP CURRENT?

There are several tell-tale signs of a rip current, though a rip can be present without any of these signs being obvious:

1. A noticeable break in wave patterns – rips often appear as flat, smooth areas of water surrounded on both sides by breaking waves. But sometimes they may be choppier that the surrounding waters – the key here is that a rip current presents a noticeable difference, whatever it may be.
2. Color discrepancy– depending on the sun angle and environmental conditions, a rip may appear daker or lighter than the surrounding waters. Often, rips carry mud and sand along so may appear cloudy – see photo above.
3. A ‘river of foam’ – as rip currents flow away from the shore they may carry sea foam, seaweed, branches, rubbish or other debris along – see photo below.

Local knowledge is crucial when it comes to beach safety. If you spot signs warning of rip currents or hear locals mention their presence, take it seriously and watch the water closely for telltale signs. It’s safest to assume rip currents exist at any surf beach—anywhere waves are breaking—so stay alert and swim with caution.

Heed the Lifesavers and the Flags

Avoidance is the best policy—and one of the simplest ways to stay safe is to swim between the flags. These markers, placed by local lifeguards, indicate the safest zones for swimming and help rescuers spot trouble quickly if someone gets pulled out. In Costa Ballena, lifeguards are the unsung heroes, quietly watching over beachgoers and responding when things go wrong.

WHAT TO DO IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT?

A rip current is usually narrow—often just a few meters wide, though it can reach 15–30 meters (50–100 feet). In most cases, swimming a short distance parallel to shore is enough to escape. The universal advice: stay calm, don’t fight the current, and swim sideways out of the flow:

1. Remain calm. Panicking uses up valuable energy and slows down clear thinking which is needed now more than ever. Remember that a few simple steps can get you out of the current and back to safety. You’ll be fine.
2. Do not fight the current. Meaning – do not swim straight for the shore. You will not be able to overpower the rip, which can move faster than an Olympic level swimmer. You have two options here:
   1. Swim parallel to the shore until you exit the rip current.
   2. Float / tread water until the current exhausts itself.
3. Once out of the current, by doing either 1 or 2 above, swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current. If you are exhausted or not a strong swimmer you may wave your hand or yell out to attract the attention of lifeguards or fellow beachgoers.

Safety in Shallow Water

If you are in shallower water and can feel the flow of the rip current, start to walk away in a direction parallel to the beach. You may need to jump up as waves hit if you are in deeper water.

To wrap up the story that began at the top—once I realized I was caught in a rip current, I followed the textbook advice: swam parallel to the beach, then angled back toward shore. Within moments, my feet touched sand and I was safely out of the water. I chose to walk the rest of the way, heading south along Playa Ventanas to rejoin my friends at our camp. The lesson is clear: Beware the rip currents—and know how to respond when they catch you.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE SOMEONE ELSE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT?

Stories about people who jumped in to help someone in trouble and ended up drowning themselves are too numerous. Generally, if you see someone caught in a rip:

1. Alert the lifeguards immediately.
2. If lifeguards are not present, call the local emergency number.
3. Try to direct the victim to swim parallel to shore to escape the current.
4. If possible, throw a flotation device towards the victim.

THE FOUR TYPES OF RIP CURRENTS

1. Channelized Rip Currents – form in breaks between sand bars or reefs. The most common type of a rip current. The rip currents flow through these breaks.
2. Boundary Rip Currents – form near natural or artificial barriers like jetties, piers, or headlands. The waves hit these structures at an angle and crate a current flowing offshore.
3. Flash Rip Currents – form suddenly due to a change in wave size or frequency, wind conditions, etc. Appear & disappear very quickly – very dangerous.
4. Topographic Rip Currents – form near uneven underwater topography such as sandbars or reefs. Causes waves to break unevenly, creating an imbalance in water being pushed onshore thus creating rip currents.

The current that took me was most likely a ‘Boundary‘ type – created near the vertical rocky cliffs adjacent to Playa Ventana’s sea caves. In addition, water flowing through the sea caves and then around the rocks creates a strong current that returns to the ocean – this is especially powerful the higher the tide gets. And yes, I should not have been there – this area is marked by a red flag when lifeguards are on duty at Playa Ventanas.

THE RECENT SAFETY DRIVES

You may have noticed rip current warning and education signs popping up on local beaches, lifeguard towers rising up like mushrooms after the rain, and an increased presence of lifeguards. This is because water safety is now getting the full attention it deserves. The Costa Rican rip current advisory signs are bilingual, of very high quality, beautifully presented, unmissable and very clear in their messaging. All credit to the Costa Rican Red Cross and the Costa Rican Tourism Institute.

WATER SAFETY TIPS

Prevention is much better than the cure – if you can avoid rip currents you need worry not about escaping them. These are general tips for being safe in the water:

1. Only enter water at patrolled beaches, and only in the safe zones designated by lifeguards.
2. Obey all lifeguard instructions and understand the lifeguard flag system.
3. Closely watch children at all times.
4. Never enter the water alone.
5. Never enter the water under influence of alcohol or drugs.
6. Learn how to confidently swim and tread water for longer periods of time.
7. Learn about water hazards like rip currents, undertow etc. Know how to identify them.
8. Know your limits. The rocky island that looks so close you could touch it is actually very far away – do not attempt to swim there. Those big waves mean stay out of the water. Etc.
9. Assume hazards like rip currents are ALWAYS present and review emergency situations before getting in the water.

SO I GET ‘RIP CURRENTS’. WHAT ARE ‘RIP TIDES’?

A rip tide is often mistaken for a rip current, though it’s typically larger, longer, and wider. Rip currents form when waves and wind push water onto shore, which then rushes back out through narrow channels. Rip tides, by contrast, are driven by the earth’s tidal movements. They occur when water exits lagoons, estuaries, or bays after high tide, funneled through narrow openings into the sea. The tighter the passage and the larger the body of water, the stronger the rip tide. Escaping one follows the same method as a rip current.

BE SAFE BUT ENJOY!

Knowing about water hazards such as rip currents and understanding how to recognize & escape them just made your day on the beach much safer! By all means, enter the ocean and enjoy the warm tropical waters – but always carry a keen eye and the respect mother nature deserves.

As seen in the photos, our beaches are simply stunning. Imaging waking up to a morning swim at Playa Ventanas or Playa Hermosa – this could be your new reality, and sooner than you could ever imagine! Browse hundreds of properties that are MINUTES away from some of the most beautiful beaches in the world – here. RE/MAX WE SELL PARADISE is your trusted partner in the majestic Costa Ballena, COSTA RICA.