Beware the Rip Currents!

• During Costa Rica’s Holy Week of 2024, 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 Playa Ventanas 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. They are fast too – 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 and fastest near the surface of the water and, contrary to popular belief, it will not suck you under the surface – it will, however, carry you out to open water. And it is important to note that they are not limited to the oceans and can form on any body of water where waves are breaking – such as lakes, seas, etc.

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.

Another important consideration is local knowledge – if you see a beach sign warning you of rip currents, or if locals are warning you that rips exist in the area – be extra careful and keep a keen eye on the water for any rip current signs. It is best to assume rip currents are present at any surf beach (meaning any beach with breaking waves).

Avoidance is the best policy – and one of the best ways to avoid dangerous areas, and be in the best position to receive help if you get carried away, is to ‘swim between the flags’ – the flags set up by the local lifeguards who are the unsung heroes of Costa Ballena.

WHAT TO DO IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT?

A rip current is usually very narrow – often just a few meters wide, sometimes up to 15-30 meters (50-100 feet) or more. Typically a few strokes, swimming parallel to shore, is enough to get you out of the rip current. The universal advice for what to do if you find yourself caught in a rip:

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.

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 finish my story from the start of the article – as soon as I confirmed I am in rip current, I swam along the beach and then turned towards the shore, following the standard advice. In no time my feet were planted on the sand and I moved out of the water, choosing to now walk along the sand as I headed back to my friends who were camped out at the far southern end of Playa Ventanas. So as the advice goes – Beware the Rip Currents! and know what to do if caught in one.

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 superficially similar to a rip current – although rip tides often tend to be larger, longer, and wider. While a rip current is made up of water that has been piled up by waves and wind, a rip tide is associated with earth’s tides – and takes place when water flows out of lagoons, estuaries, and bays following the high tide. These bodies of water have narrow passages that link them to open water, and these passages carry all the water that is flowing out in preparation for the low tide. Basically – the narrower the opening and the bigger the lagoon/estuary/bay etc, the stronger the rip tide. Getting out of a rip tide is no different than getting out of a rip current – the process is exactly the same.

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.