Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches.

Do not become a rip current casualty. Swim at lifeguarded beaches: On average, 56 people drown because of rip currents in South Africa each year. Rips are the most significant danger visitors to our beaches face.

Our top tip for avoiding rips and staying safe as the holidays start this season is visiting a beach where and when lifeguards are on duty.

The NSRI Lifeguard season started on December 1st for the Knysna and George municipalities and began yesterday, December 13th, for Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergriver, Saldanha Bay, Club Mykonos, and Hessequa.

NSRI Lifeguard managers Rebecca Carter-Smith and Mthe Kweyama offer good advice on staying safe at the beach during the summer holidays.

“Alcohol and going into the water should be avoided at all costs,” says Mthe. “Swimming after consuming alcohol puts your life at significant risk,” he added. “Alcohol compromises your judgment, lessens your ability to cope with cold water, reduces your ability to stay afloat and reduces your ability to concentrate. If parents or caregivers are looking after children in or near water, drinking alcohol will reduce their ability to be able to help their children if the need arises.”

“Please don’t drink before going into the water,” adds Mthe.

“Supervision of children is critical,” agrees Rebecca. “Drowning is silent. There will not be any shouts for help or splashing. If someone is starting to drown, often they will quietly slip under the water without making any noise.” “Parents should take responsibility for their children and be at arm’s length from them when in the water,” she added.

Most people need help to correctly identify dangerous or rip currents at beaches. Lifeguards can keep you safe between their flags – so rather go into the water there.

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow away from the shore, posing a significant danger to beachgoers. They typically form where waves break over sandbars or reefs, creating localised water movements that pull swimmers out to sea.

Rip currents can reach almost 3 meters per second, making them faster than an Olympic swimmer. They develop when waves push water towards the shore, raising the water level. This excess water then seeks to return to the ocean through the path of least resistance, often forming a current through gaps in sandbars or other underwater features.

Several visual cues identify rip currents: Darker water indicates deeper channels where waves do not break. Gaps between waves: Areas where fewer or no waves are breaking can signal a rip current. Choppy surface: A distinct channel of turbulent water surrounded by smoother areas.

Rip currents are the leading cause of rescues by lifeguards at beaches. They do not pull individuals under the water but can quickly drag them away from the beach. Panic often leads swimmers to swim against the current, which can result in exhaustion and drowning.

If caught in a rip current, it is crucial to remember to stay calm: Do not panic; conserve energy by floating. Swim out of the current: Instead of swimming directly back to land, swim sideways to escape the current’s grip. Signal for help: Raise your arm and shout for assistance if needed.

If you see someone who needs help in the water, call a lifeguard or the NSRI for help. (112 is a free call from your cell phone, or contact the NSRI Emergency Operations Centre on 087 094 9774).

Try to throw something that floats to the person who needs help. Remember that untrained people should only go into the water to help if they are strong swimmers and have flotation. An NSRI Pink Rescue Buoy or surfboard is a good example of floatation. Interestingly, since the Pink Buoy project started in late 2017, 130 people, in 100 instances, were rescued with a Pink Buoy because of rip currents.

The following Municipalities in the Western Cape have NSRI lifeguards:

Matzikama, Cederberg, Bergriver, Saldanha Bay, Club Mykonos, Hessequa, George and Knysna.

Media:

Video material and photographs of NSRI Lifeguards can be downloaded from the NSRI’s Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/searescue/albums/72177720304674667/

A video on rip currents is available on NSRI’s YouTube channel https://youtu.be/9GBUBDMENfw?si=l-8mdp4fcUZchnaL

Photographs of rip currents and be downloaded from NSRI’s Flickr page https://www.flickr.com/photos/searescue/albums/72157719324524640/

For interviews or information, please get in touch with NSRI Communications Manager Andrew Ingram at andrewi@searescue.org.za or on 082 990 5977

Sardines and Sighting Maps

It has been a fantastic sardine run this memorable 2024. And all the action has been logged right here on The Sardine News. This year’s map has been viewed 199,000 times and just keeps growing.

Which led us to decide to keep the map live. And keep adding unique marine animal sightings and events. That occurs non-stop all year round. This year we started to log more whale and dolphin sightings. And we even had a shipwreck! And a freaking tornado! And recently a capsized KZNSB boat! We have been updating the map with recent catches too…

These events will from now on be included in the Sardine News Sightings Map for 2024. And on the 1 January 2025, we shall start all over again.

Here are the links to existing and past Sardine Sighting Maps. Great for a windy day like today to research. With instructions to install The Sardine News right on your phone or desktop.

2024 Sardine Map

2023 Sardine Map

2022 Sardine Map

2021 Sardine Map

Channels

Brucifire Surf Retorts – highly entertaining  surf reporting

Master Watermen – news from way down deep

The Sardine News – neva miss a single  sardine

FishBazaruto – 1000 pounds plus

MYDO Tackle Talk – highly technical  sport fishing

Surf Launching Southern Africa – getting out there safely

Water Woes – complain about your municipality here

Websites

umzimkulu.co.za – self-catering right on the Umzimkulu River
umzimkuluadrenalin.co.za –  will get you right out and onto the edge
thesardine.co.za – never miss a single sardine
masterwatermen.co.za – news from under water
fishbazaruto.com – dreams
brucifire.co.za – surf retorts