I grew up in the Destin area and have experienced several rip currents; some stronger than others. The worst being when I was standing on a sandbar and it completely disintegrated right under my feet with no warning. I was pulled out about 75 yards from where I was originally standing. The biggest thing is to not panic which is easier said than done when you haven't experienced one before. Even if you are Michael Phelps, you can't fight it head on. You either have to swim parallel to the shore or wait until it dumps you out and then swim in from there. Unfortunately, for many people, the first time they experience a rip current ends up being their last.
Ryan Mallett drowning: Riptides not a factor in former NFL QB's death The entire Okaloosa County, as well as Destin, we’re not under red flags or double red flags despite some of the misperceptions out there.” “We were under a yellow flag, which is just swim with caution,” he continued. “It just seems to be a tragic accident and not something to do with the conditions of the surf or tides or currents.”
If rip current was not the issue, I wonder why the following: Citing deputies who responded to the drowning incident, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office said they arrived at the beach near Gulf Shore Drive in Destin just after 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday afternoon, and found a group of people in the water, near the second sandbar, who had reportedly been struggling to return to shore. The Sheriff is denying a rip current existed, but I wonder if it's a matter of bad pub. Kinda like . . .
Swam Destin Waters for years (used to dive and collect sand-dollars for artists). When that Rip Current hits, (GO WITH IT) you will go way off course but if you swim against it, it will beat you, especially with no gear or equipment. I've been swept a good 1/4 mile from my entry points before. If you panic it will kill you.
Competent swimmers and people that know the ocean fear them not at all. They do not pull you down, they just create a current that runs out, perpendicular to the beach. They are easily spotted, because they pull sand off the beach and discolor the water, and are thus easily avoided by people that know the ocean. Those who get caught in one know not to swim against it, but to swim perpendicular to it. Most of them are only maybe 15-20 yards wide at most, so one can easily exit it in a short time. Surfers like them because they help them paddle out more quickly. As I understand it, most (if not all), of the people that drowned were from other states, probably weak swimmers, and unfamiliar with the ocean. And then they decided to ignore the warnings.
Rip currents are like escalators, take a ride and get off when you are where you want to be. The Gulf nor ocean are a place for those unfamiliar.
This is a BULLSHIT comment from a bullshitter who admits he has never been in one. I've been in them twice. Yes, if you know what to do you can get out of one. Best case scenario they take you 100s of yard to sea and 100s of yards down shore from where you want to be. Usually takes you HOURS to get back to shore when you get swept up in one. EVEN WHEN YOU KNOW EVERYTHING TO DO your brain is hardwired to panic and struggle to get back to shore and IT TAKES ALL YOUR SENSES to focus and do what you need to do to get out. I hate that visitors don't get more education on this from the hotels but to be flippant and say getting out of a riptide is no big deal.
Your definitely confused. I’m 55 and not in near the shape I use to be in but I’ll gladly jump right in waves much bigger than any of these little waves that people drown in. There’s nothing on the gulf coast that’s going to take that long to deal with. The second sandbar abruptly ends ripcurrents after you are swept past that. Your talking 200-300 yards tops. I can swim any of them and body surf back in in less than 30 minutes in the worst conditions imaginable short of a hurricane.
I was a life guard in high school dude, swam competitively, and started surfing when I was 9, and still surf. I've seen hundreds of rip currents, and been in plenty, sometimes voluntarily when surfing. If a rip current is such a big deal to someone, they shouldn't be in the ocean. The fact that you are unfamiliar with the ocean and can't swim a lick would explain why YOU panic, which of course is the worst thing to do and is what most likely happened to these poor people that drowned. We saw it all the time. People from Georgia, Alabama etc. would come to Florida, can't swim from one side of a swimming pool to another, but charge out into the ocean and get in trouble. Go soak your head; just don't do it in a rip current, so you won't panic.
A 20+ snapper fell off the hook at the boat last year and I told the guy to quit staring at it and go get it. He was 100 or so ft from the boat in no time and I had to go pick him up to keep him from drowning. The poor guy had trouble treading water for like two minutes. It just doesn’t register with me that there are people that can’t swim well. I felt terrible. Most all my friends surf and swim very well. I’d guess I could tread water for and hour or two right? I’m getting old so maybe not.
Good for you. I get to take care of those that "survive" with horrible brain injuries and guide their families through the tragic grieving process. So forgive me if I find your comments callous and subhuman. Congrats; you are only the 2nd person I've ever blocked.
