Feeder – This is where the rip originates and is where the water brought towards the shoreline by waves, starts to recede back into the ocean.
Neck – As waves break and dissipate on the shallow shoreline, water then needs to return back out to deeper water.
In areas of the beach where there are deep channels sided by shallow sandbanks or fixed piers or headlands, water will naturally flow towards deeper areas and back out to sea.
Head – This is typically behind the surf zone and often where the strength of the current will weaken and slow down.
What are the different types of rips?
Fixed – Often found at large exposed surfing beaches, away from headlands, rocks or piers. As sandbars build, shift and break up, fixed or ‘open coast beach rips’ can be found regularly along the beach.
Permanent – Found where the beach has established piers, cliffs, groyne’s or any permanent feature extending into the surf zone. Otherwise known as ‘Topographic rips’, these immovable obstructions interrupt the parallel flow of water and force the rip to travel along the feature out towards the ocean.
Travelling – Initially, this form of rip current travels parallel to the shoreline, then changes in direction heading out to sea.
Flash rips – Caused by a sudden shift in sandbanks or a large increase in surf size.
Key points & facts about rips
Rip Currents are caused by waves
Rip currents can be very strong and travel up to eight feet per second.
Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by beach lifeguards in the US.
Over 60% of RNLI lifeguard incidents involve rip currents. (Source)
A rip is strongest near the surface of the sea.