Oooo, look, such pretty danger!
This picture is a picture of very dangerous waters.
*points to the smooth, waveless areas*
Those are rip currents where the water says “nope!” and rushes back out to the ocean. If you go in the smooth areas, the ocean will “nope!” you right along with it.
So, if you’re going to play in arguably the most hostile environment on the planet, play where the waves break, and avoid weird random flat spots.
If you do get caught in a rip current, you will not win. 180lbs human against a fckton of lbs of water. It’s physics. You will go with the ocean, and you can exhaust to death fighting.
(River & Flood fact: 6in of water can pull a person off their feet, or drag a car off the road)
So when the big water takes you with it, be like “this is my life now,” drift till it lets you go, then swim parallel to shore and find waves to gently guide you back in.
If you are on the beach, and you are uncertain about the currents: look around. If everyone who looks like a local is NOT in the water, there’s probably a good reason.
*points to the picture again*
Look how few people there are on the sand, and even less in the water. That says something right there!
When in doubt, don’t go out.