The national Sea Rescue Institute has warned beach goers to be extra vigilant over the festive season because of a new moon spring tide creating stronger than normal rip currents along the coast in New Year.
“Bathers and shoreline anglers are most at risk and extreme caution is advised,” NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said.
“Very strong rip currents will be present around the coast over the next six to eight days.”
Spring Tide happens twice every month, at full moon and the new moon.
“During Spring Tide the twice daily high tides are higher than normal and the twice daily low tides are lower than normal and while rip currents are always present and dangerous the Spring Tide creates stronger than normal rip currents and hence the danger is increased.”
He said rip currents were caused when the water reaching the shoreline in waves, swells and sea currents needs to find a way to retreat back into the sea and this is achieved in rip currents – a river of water retreating through the incoming swells back out into the sea.
“Bathers are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming or wading in water along the beach front.
“Even bathers wading in shallow water who find themselves trapped in a rip current that forms suddenly are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.”
Bathers caught in a rip current were urged not to panic but rather to stay afloat by treading water - and not to swim against the current. Swimming parallel to the beach would free a person from a rip current.
“Swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and obey the instructions of the lifeguards and only swim within the safe swimming zones lifeguards mark using their red and yellow flags.”
Bathers warned about stronger rip currents
“Bathers and shoreline anglers are most at risk and extreme caution is advised,” NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon said.
“Very strong rip currents will be present around the coast over the next six to eight days.”
Spring Tide happens twice every month, at full moon and the new moon.
“During Spring Tide the twice daily high tides are higher than normal and the twice daily low tides are lower than normal and while rip currents are always present and dangerous the Spring Tide creates stronger than normal rip currents and hence the danger is increased.”
He said rip currents were caused when the water reaching the shoreline in waves, swells and sea currents needs to find a way to retreat back into the sea and this is achieved in rip currents – a river of water retreating through the incoming swells back out into the sea.
“Bathers are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming or wading in water along the beach front.
“Even bathers wading in shallow water who find themselves trapped in a rip current that forms suddenly are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.”
Bathers caught in a rip current were urged not to panic but rather to stay afloat by treading water - and not to swim against the current. Swimming parallel to the beach would free a person from a rip current.
“Swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty and obey the instructions of the lifeguards and only swim within the safe swimming zones lifeguards mark using their red and yellow flags.”
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