Emerald Coast · Safety
What is a rip current?
A rip current is a narrow, fast-moving channel of water flowing back out to sea. It's the number-one beach danger in this area — and the good news is, you can beat it if you know what to do.
🌟 How to survive a rip current
- Don't fight it. Don't try to swim straight back to shore against the current.
- Swim parallel to the shore until you're out of the current, then angle back in.
- Float and signal for help if you can't swim out.
- At a guarded beach, tell a lifeguard a fellow swimmer is in trouble.
- Remember: a green flag doesn't mean no rip. Rip currents can happen even when conditions look calm. Check today's flags.
🔭 How to spot a rip current
- A channel of choppy, darker water between wave sets.
- A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily out to sea.
- A break in the pattern of incoming waves.