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 Surf Warnings and PrecautionsWhat is a "rip current"? It is a narrow, powerful current of water running perpendicular to the beach, out into the ocean. These currents may extend 200 to 2,500 feet lengthwise, but are typically less than 30 feet wide. Rip currents can move fast, often 5 miles per hour or faster. Rip currents are caused by the shape of the shoreline and often occur suddenly. They are scary because they catch you off guard. One minute you're floating or splashing happily in the surf, the next you're being dragged out to sea at top speed. They occur in all sorts of weather and on many of Hawaii’s beaches. Unlike violent, crashing waves, you probably won't notice a rip current until you're being whisked away.A rip current occurs when the receding flow of the ocean becomes concentrated in a particular area. The most common cause of this is a break in a sandbar where the water rushes through at a low point. Rip currents can last for several minutes or hours Is a "rip tide" the same thing? No. There really is no such thing as a rip tide. Tides are the rising and falling of water levels in the ocean caused mostly by the moon’s gravitational pull. Tides change gradually and predictably every day. Is "undertow" the same as a rip current? Rip currents are also not undertow. Undertow is a current of water that pulls you down to the ocean bottom. Rip currents move along the surface of the water, pulling you straight out into the ocean, but not underneath the water's surface. If you are in shallow water, a rip current could knock you down, and if you thrash around and get disoriented, you may end up being pulled along the ocean bottom. The key is to relax your body and let the current keep you near the surface. What do you do if you find yourself in a rip current? If you get caught up in a rip current—don’t panic. Your first instinct may be to swim against the current back to shallow waters because it’s the shortest distance. Even a strong swimmer cannot do this will become exhausted. The current is too strong to fight head-on. Instead, swim sideways, parallel to the beach. This will get you out of the narrow outward current, so you can swim back to shore with the waves helping you. If it's too hard to swim sideways while you're being dragged through the water, just wait until the current carries you past the sandbar. The water will become calmer and you can then swim clear of the rip current before heading back in.  Catch a set yourself: Big Island | Kauai | Maui | Oahu Explore more Hints & Tips... Or plan your dream vacation through our Hawaii Travel Directory: Big Island | Kauai | Maui | Oahu
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