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  • (Waves crashing)

  • ♫ (Ambient Music) ♫

  • - Rip currents are really dangerous.

  • The current is so strong that most people

  • can't even swim against it

  • and will get pulled right out.

  • Even, in some cases, an Olympic swimmer

  • will get pulled out.

  • A rip current is a small coastal stream that flows out

  • through the surf zone.

  • When you come to the beach, you'll see surf breaking

  • then you'll see a calm spot.

  • That calm spot's usually where the rip current

  • is between the breakers.

  • It's deceiving because that area is the calmest

  • and it's where most people would think,

  • "Well, this looks like a good place to wade."

  • That area's the dangerous part.

  • Where you really want to go

  • are where the waves are the biggest.

  • (Wave crashes)

  • Ocean Beach is a very dangerous beach

  • and it's considered one of the most dangerous beaches

  • because of the rip currents on the beach.

  • See the drainage into here?

  • The holes?

  • The shallow area?

  • Wave's gonna come up in here and it's gonna

  • all channel into here.

  • It'll snap and it'll flow out.

  • It'll find the least path of resistance basically.

  • That'll be a little channel going out.

  • It doesn't have to be a huge channel,

  • just has to be a depression in the sand,

  • the topography below the water.

  • It can go anywhere from two meters a second

  • to eight meters a second.

  • That's why you need to pay attention to the ocean

  • and not get sucked into these things.

  • When you go to the beach, go with a friend,

  • go with a buddy.

  • Someone to keep an eye on you

  • and you can keep an eye on them.

  • The first thing to remember if you do get caught

  • in a rip current is to remain calm.

  • The rip current will only take you out

  • past the breakers.

  • It won't pull you down.

  • It won't take you way, way out into the ocean.

  • Relaxed, get your bearings, see where you are,

  • and see how fast you're going out.

  • Don't swim against and don't fight against the current,

  • just let it take you out beyond the breakers.

  • Float there, find your bearings, swim parallel to shore

  • for about 25 yards or so.

  • You'll be out of the rip current most of the time

  • and then swim, surf the waves, basically,

  • back to the beach.

  • On all the beaches in California,

  • you should always look out for the ocean.

  • You should never turn your back on the ocean.

  • If you can't swim, you should never go in the water.

  • You should always learn to swim.

  • If you're wondering about going out, don't go out.

  • When in doubt, don't go out.

(Waves crashing)

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