Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 It's getting that time of year when everyone will be heading to the beach, for new arrivals please can I take this opportunity to provide the following warning. RIPS This has to be the main cause of drownings/rescues in Australia. A rip is a strong current which begins close to the shore and runs away from the beach. Rips can easily sweep you out to sea from really shallow water. To avoid being caught in a rip always swim between the flags and observe the safety signs. [YOUTUBE]1OebiHik0aI[/YOUTUBE] Common Signs of a rip are: Darker Water, indicating deeper water. Murky Brown water caused by sand stirred up in faster water. A choppy rippled look when other areas look calm In large surf a much smoother surface with smaller waves. An area with a few breaking waves on the beach Foam or Debris floating out to sea. If you find yourself caught in a rip the best advise I can offer is DON'T PANIC other things are: Raise your arm to signal you need help Do NOT try to swim back to shore and against the current, you won't get anywhere and you will soon get exhausted. Swim Parallel to the beach. and remember: [YOUTUBE]n8WOlrVHfMw[/YOUTUBE] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKC Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I have used this Beach Safe Website many times to check out beaches that we are visiting with the children. It has info on things like what facilities are at the beach, and also has info on how safe the beach is and whether there are rip currents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
olly Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 The surf beaches scare me, I remember when a family were going to a beach outing and were unloading their kids from the car in the carpark - the little kids ran off and when the adults got to the beach the kids were already swept out ot sea, very tragic. Scroll down in this article to read the tragic story of the family who lost four of their kids at Gunnamatta Beach in Victoria. http://www.slsa.com.au/site/_content/resource/00000356-docsource.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest The Pom Queen Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 That is so tragic, I remember when we first moved over I have never heard of a rip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I'm Sydney's biggest wimp in the water and I always do swim between the flags. Funny but Clovelly must be the only beach without flags but with a surf life saving club? Going up or down the steps to get in there scares me if there is the slightest swell. I'm even frightened to go into the 'proper' pools at the likes of Bronte if there is a swell washing into it. Consequently, I do most of my swims at Harbour beaches like Redleaf, Neilsen Park, Parsley Bay & Watsons Bay but there's no lifeguards there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FatCats Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I'm Sydney's biggest wimp in the water and I always do swim between the flags. Funny but Clovelly must be the only beach without flags but with a surf life saving club? Going up or down the steps to get in there scares me if there is the slightest swell. I'm even frightened to go into the 'proper' pools at the likes of Bronte if there is a swell washing into it. Consequently, I do most of my swims at Harbour beaches like Redleaf, Neilsen Park, Parsley Bay & Watsons Bay but there's no lifeguards there. We did a shore dive from Gordon's Bay last Sunday, there was quite a swell. With all my kit on I had trouble staying standing up for enough time to get my fins on!! Had to end up floating on my back and sticking my feet in the air and got two of lads to do it for me!!! What an idiot.... :embarrassed: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theonetruechris Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 tragic as it is (was) there's no way you could go to Gunamatta and not have a sense there's no danger. That's one of the beauty's of the bass coast beaches they're ****ing wild places. you certainly know there's an ocean attached to them. What is it the surfers say about respecting the ocean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 We did a shore dive from Gordon's Bay last Sunday, there was quite a swell. With all my kit on I had trouble staying standing up for enough time to get my fins on!! Had to end up floating on my back and sticking my feet in the air and got two of lads to do it for me!!! What an idiot.... :embarrassed: That's a wild little spot - Gordon's Bay! Always imagine smugglers coming ashore there. I used to get the bus to Coogee all the time, then walk to Clovelly via Gordon's Bay, swim at Cloee, then get the bus back to Surry Hills from Clovelly. At least it sounds like you are settling in fast. Last time I read a post from you, you had met one of the guys who runs the diving club? Weren't you going on a BBQ to meet the others? How is Winston Hills too? I am far too timid to ever think of diving but it's about time I got a snorkel for Clovelly. You see quite a few people there swimming up and down with their heads down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARYROSE02 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 I should say 'John Winston Lennon Hills!' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3FatCats Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 That's a wild little spot - Gordon's Bay! Always imagine smugglers coming ashore there. I used to get the bus to Coogee all the time, then walk to Clovelly via Gordon's Bay, swim at Cloee, then get the bus back to Surry Hills from Clovelly. At least it sounds like you are settling in fast. Last time I read a post from you, you had met one of the guys who runs the diving club? Weren't you going on a BBQ to meet the others? How is Winston Hills too? I am far too timid to ever think of diving but it's about time I got a snorkel for Clovelly. You see quite a few people there swimming up and down with their heads down. Yeah, Gordon's Bay is wild! I can imagine the smugglers coming in by moonlight too. It is beautiful round that area, I love Coogee and we dived off Shark Point there too. The dive club is nice, we had the BBQ and are gradually making some friends from our Sunday dives. Still feel homesick and like I don't fit in TBH and haven't really taken to Sydney... it will take time I suppose. Winston Hills is c**p for me, total anonymous suburbia. I need to be somewhere with more of a community feel or near the beach, but until only OH is earning this is what we can afford and this is where we will stay, be thankful for small mercies and all that...!:yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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