Respect the Ocean

This summer there have been a number of ocean rescues and, more recently, drowning incidents, along our beaches. These incidents do not occur during calm days when the water calmly licks at the shoreline like some sleepy lake in the middle of Indiana. They happen before and after storms. Huge low pressure systems, tropical storms and hurricanes send powerful waves our way.  If the surf looks rough, it probably is. This isn't rocket science - but East Coasters seem to struggle with this concept every summer.

Let me take a step back for a minute. 

Waves are created by two things: wind and distance (fetch). When the wind blows hard and continually for any length of time, waves are created. If they come from far away like, say, Florida or the Carolinas, the result is often long, clean lines of somewhat powerful groundswell - like they get on the West Coast every day. 

With a distance of less than 3,700 miles between the East Coast of the United States and Africa, there isn't a lot of room for waves to propagate. San Diego, on the other hand, has nothing but open seas and popcorn islands for 7,500 miles until you hit the Eastern Australia - and has even fewer obstacles between it's own sunny coast and Antarctica where nasty storms tend to brew from November to June sending powerful wave trains to the West Coast and Hawaii.

Californians and Hawaiians are used to ground swell. They understand its power and, most importantly, they respect it. Their lifeguards are professionals with extensive training - not college kids on summer break like so many of ours. They have watchtowers to track swimmers; ATVs, boats, & waverunners poised and at the ready. 

We have college kids sitting on guard stands.

I'm not knocking East Coast guards. They work hard, they train hard and they're voluntarily putting themselves in a position that can make the difference between life and death for someone. And they have, what, four months to practice every year? 

What I am questioning is the judgement of area swimmers. I don't care how strong of a swimmer you are, when the waves are overhead and pounding the surfers, don't you think you should be wary of swimming? Red and yellow flags should never be ignored. Rough surf and "No Lifeguard on Duty" should mean stay out of the water  - particularly if you don't have a floatation device of some kind. And you should never swim alone in the ocean for any reason. 

Summer may be over, but Hurricane season extends until November and the guards will all be gone soon. Be smart out there and, PLEASE, respect the ocean.