When you visit the beach and see a calm spot with no waves, it’s best to stay away from it.

This area is likely a rip current, which can appear unexpectedly along the coast. These spots often look darker because the water is deeper than usual, the surface is calmer, and the waves are smaller.

If you enter this area, the water can pull you out to sea rapidly. Even an Olympic swimmer would struggle to get back to shore. Rip currents are responsible for approximately 80% of all drownings in the ocean.

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the most important thing is to stay calm. Instead of swimming towards the shore, try to swim parallel to the beach to escape the current.

Make sure to share this information with your family and friends to help keep everyone safe.