Please please please be careful in the surf. While the waves themselves may not be big, there are rips which will carry you out beyond the breakers if you are not careful.
Always swim between the flags. You will see lifeguards and there are red and yellow flags. Stay there. If you insist on trying to kill yourself and not swim with the ifeguards, here are some tips.
Firstly, know what a rip looks like. Rips are where the water from the waves goes back to sea. This creates a movement of sand and you can see the sand churned by the rips moving back through the waves. It looks like a funnel and that is exactly what it is.
Secondly, use a fixed landmark on the shore as a reference point. The sweep, or current, on the Gold Coast runs south to north and it is easy to get dragged a long way fron where you started. Use a building to know where you entered the water. This will tell you if you are heading the wrong way.
Thirdly, if you get caught in a rip, DO NOT FIGHT IT!!! The reason people drown in rips is because they get exhausted fighting it. Just let it take you out or if you are a good swimmer, swim diagonally across the rip. When you get out to the back, wave one hand above your head. Someone will see you and go to get help.
The last piece of advice is never ever swim at night. If you think the ocean is dangerous during the day, it is nothing compared to the night.
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on May 21, 2004
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