27 April, 2026. I have just read of the drowning of 2 teenagers off a beach at Mossel Bay who were "swept away by rip currents." These deaths would almost certainly been avoided if they had known what to do. I remembered the advice that was in the "Welcome" folder at the holiday accomodation that my wife used to manage. I have reprinted it below. If you know about rip tides, it is a refresher to all of us.
Share this vital information with all family members and friends, especially those from inland areas, BEFORE they go to a beach.
Don’t mean to scare you, but this is worth knowing wherever you swim in the sea but particularly in certain spots along this southern coast…
Surviving an encounter with a rip current or tide
When caught in a rip current, one should not fight it. Rather, swim parallel to the shoreline in order to leave it, as rip currents are generally only 30 to 100 ft (9–30 m) wide, thus swimming out of one via swimming parallel would only take a few minutes. While floating until the current disperses into deeper waters is another method of surviving such a dangerous incident, it may leave the swimmer farther away from shore.
Rip currents can be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach and leading to death by drowning when they attempt to fight the current and become exhausted. Although a rare event, rip currents can be deadly for non-swimmers as well: a person standing waist deep in water can be dragged out into deeper waters, where they can drown if they are unable to swim and are not wearing a flotation device. Some beaches are more likely to have strong rip currents than others, and a few are particularly well known for them, the overall topography of the area being the main factor. [Source: Wikipedia]
Our 2 closest main beaches:
Brenton on Sea
See No 2 on map of area. This is the closest wave beach. Be cautious swimming here as the beach can drop away sharply. If you are not a strong swimmer, don’t go in too deep. The sea tends to be rougher here than at Buffelsbaai. The drive there has 2 turnoffs where after the first one, you can get a great view of the Lagoon and Knysna.
Buffelsbaai or Buffalo Bay
See No 3 on map of area. The best wave beach swimming in the area. Beach slopes gently into the water so there is lots of shallow space for safe splashing around for kids. Popular with surfers and boogie boarders. The drive from the N2 to Buffelsbaai is also very pretty. The best choice for kids splashing in the shallows and swimming.
Be aware that the beaches change all the time - the sand moves. What was there today may be gone tomorow. If in doubt, don't go out.
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