@marcas Grew up surfing and body boarding. Before going into the ocean, we always looked from the dunes (rips, weather, tides). Then looked at the shore line (marine stingers). Before entering.

Rips are like a fast track to the big waves out back.

Sharks hate waves.

If you get stuck in a rip, just coast the freeway out, take a deep breath before each wave. The waves come in sets but you'll eventually come up again. Once out back, wave hands and swim across and back in. Like a rectangle.