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The sun is warm and we have the day off, so let's go to the beach. Here are some tips on how to have fun in the ocean environment and be safety aware at the same time. Following these tips will help insure that your trip to the beach is a good experience. |
| What's in the Surfline |
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Far out in the ocean, strong winds from weather and storms blow on the surface of the
water creating ocean swells. These swells travel great distances until they strike the
shallow coastline and become powerful, breaking waves. Since most waves break at an angle
to the shoreline, they push water sideways, forming a current that moves parallel to the
beach. This is called sidecurrent. Breaking waves and moving water also create an
irregular sea floor with channels, holes, and different sand formations. When sidecurrents
meet sand formations, channels or fixed obstacles like piers or jetties, the flow of water
is diverted seaward, forming a ripcurrent (arrows). Ripcurrents are the returning flow of
water from the shore to the sea. They can be swift and powerful, and will often carry
unwary swimmers and waders from the shore. If at all possible, check with the lifeguard or
other responsible adult before entering the water. |
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Ripcurrents and You |
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It is very important that you pay attention to where you are drifting while you swim and
play in the ocean. You can tell you are caught in a ripcurrent when you notice you are
moving away from the shore and making no progress when trying to swim in. To get to the beach,
swim parallel to shore until you are out of the seaward current, then swim into shore. If
you are having trouble, just relax and wave for help. Remember: Ripcurrents pull you out
to sea, not underwater.LIFEGUARDS ARE THERE TO HELP YOU.. |
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The Ocean Bottom and You |
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Due to it's very changeable nature you will encounter an irregular sea floor that reshapes itself continually. What was a smooth flat bottom yesterday, may be a sandbar today. This is because little waves push sand on shore, while big waves erode the beach moving sand off shore. This movement of sand may cause a buildup of sand in one area, called a sandbar, or create a hole in the bottom that may expose rocks or other hidden objects. To prevent striking the bottom headfirst, extend your arms when diving under waves, bodysurfing, or during a wipeout. Never dive head-first! People have been paralyzed for life because they did not follow this simple advice. |
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What's down there? |
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The Ocean supports a wide variety of sea-life, from the microscopic plankton up to the
great ocean mammals such as whales and dolphins, many of which make their home in Southern
California waters. While most local species of sea-life share the same areas of the shore
that we do, most are very shy and tend to avoid us. There are, however, some species that
you may come in contact with. One of these that you should be familiar with is the stingray.
What is a stingray? A Stingray is a flat, bottom-feeding fish that lives and breeds in our warm shallow waters from June through September. They prefer locations with sandy bottoms like we have in the Bolsa Chica, Huntington Beach and Sunset Beach areas. They lay flat on the bottom, sometimes hidden in the sand, where they feed on small crustaceans and other shellfish. Do stingrays attack? NO! Stingrays are not normally an aggressive fish, but they will defend themselves if they feel that they are threatened, such as being stepped on. Stingrays have a stinger in their tails that they use to sting their attacker, usually in the ankle or foot. The stinger is covered in a protein (like a bee sting) which adds to the pain of the sting.
How to avoid being stungJust like when you go visiting friends it's always better to let them know that you are coming. The best way to do this with stingrays is to do what we like to call the Stingray Shuffle. By shuffling (or sliding) your feet slowly through the sand you will warn the stingrays to your presence and to move out of your way. It is the best way to prevent a sting, so remember to do the Stingray Shuffle from the time your toes get wet until you leave the water! What to do if you get stung Since the protein on the stinger is very similar to that of a bee sting, some people (like those allergic to bee stings) may develop a severe allergic reaction and must seek immediate medical assistance. For most others, if you get stung, the basic first-aid treatment is to soak the area in hot water to help breakdown the toxins and will help relieve the pain. It is always a good idea to see a doctor after receiving immediate care. |
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Last Update: November 15th, 2007