4 ms·

Nowhere near that close for me and a lot more soft, but still one of these “oh shit” moments was when I decided to go swimming when waves were bigger than usual

by dvcrn 9y ago

Nowhere near that close for me and a lot more soft, but still one of these “oh shit” moments was when I decided to go swimming when waves were bigger than usual due to a coming storm. It was all fun until I realized I wasn’t able to swim back to the shore to where I can stand. Every time I tried, a wave knocked me further into the ocean and my leftover stamina kept dropping. I was freaking out and had no idea how to get out of there. Luckily the waves went smaller for some time and I was able to swim back to where I was able to feel the ground and pushed from there. I knew that in the worst case the coastguard or other swimmers would have jumped in but still.

enriquto 9y ago
It is better to swim parallel to the coast until you find an easier place to approach. Fighting the currents is exhausting.
- crocal 9y ago
  I confirm. I grew up near the Atlantic Ocean, in an area of high current. It is something that was taught to us as teenagers.
  - emodendroket 9y ago
    I think knowing that and having the presence of mind to do it as you drown are two different things.
- 725686 9y ago
  I found that the hard way. I was caught in an outward current and was desperately trying to swim towards the beach with waves constantly hammering me. When I was about to drown a lifeguard appeared from nowhere and dragged me sideways out of the current and then towards the beach.
tarsinge 9y ago
Also waves come grouped in series of 3-10 (at least in the Atlantic Ocean) so the strategy is usually not to panic (easy to say) and wait for a small calm moment
vinc 9y ago
The same happened to me. It was fun to swim in the big waves and spend half of the time under the water until I got tired and realized that the current was stronger than me.
iaskwhy 9y ago
I've been in that situation myself, a wave luckily brought me closer to the shore as I was about to quit and then I could just run to safety. I'm much more aware of dangerous zones in beaches nowadays. I recommend everyone to see a few of these videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+get+out+of+a+rip+current https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+get+out+...

by dvcrn 9y ago

enriquto 9y ago

It is better to swim parallel to the coast until you find an easier place to approach. Fighting the currents is exhausting.

crocal 9y ago
I confirm. I grew up near the Atlantic Ocean, in an area of high current. It is something that was taught to us as teenagers.
- emodendroket 9y ago
  I think knowing that and having the presence of mind to do it as you drown are two different things.
725686 9y ago
I found that the hard way. I was caught in an outward current and was desperately trying to swim towards the beach with waves constantly hammering me. When I was about to drown a lifeguard appeared from nowhere and dragged me sideways out of the current and then towards the beach.

tarsinge 9y ago

Also waves come grouped in series of 3-10 (at least in the Atlantic Ocean) so the strategy is usually not to panic (easy to say) and wait for a small calm moment

vinc 9y ago

The same happened to me. It was fun to swim in the big waves and spend half of the time under the water until I got tired and realized that the current was stronger than me.

iaskwhy 9y ago

I've been in that situation myself, a wave luckily brought me closer to the shore as I was about to quit and then I could just run to safety. I'm much more aware of dangerous zones in beaches nowadays. I recommend everyone to see a few of these videos: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+get+out+of+a+rip+current https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+get+out+...