4 Valuable Skills for Safe Ocean Swimming

My husband and I did a lot of swimming in the ocean growing up and there's nothing like it. I love it so much because you really feel like you're a part of a huge and powerful force of nature. But being in such a large body of water can be more dangerous than you might think. Here are four tips that will give you more peace of mind swimming in the ocean and taking your children to swim in the ocean. In my opinion, nobody should venture into the ocean without mastering these skills.

1. How to Get Out of Rip Currents (aka Rip Tides)

• Rip currents, or rip tides, can be found in any large body of water and they are responsible for many deaths every year. They usually occur near large structures like piers and jetties, but they can also occur when there is a drop or hole in the ocean floor. 
• They have a strong pull and can be very scary, especially for children. The most important thing to remember if you find yourself caught in a rip tide is to STAY CALM.
• Making children aware of rip tides will help prepare them if they are ever caught in one and they will be able to recognize what is going on and be less likely to panic.
• The way to GET OUT OF A RIP TIDE is to SWIM PARALLEL TO THE SHORE until you are out of the rip tide and then swim straight to shore. If you get tired while you're swimming, try to float, but still attempt to go parallel to the shore.
• If you find that you can't get out of the rip tide by swimming parallel to the shore, wave your arms and get the attention of a lifeguard as soon as you can, but remember not to panic!
• Getting out of a rip tide is really quite simple and nothing to be afraid of if you're prepared for it, but you should still avoid them. Stay at least 100 feet away from large structures in the water.

2. How to Catch a Wave to Shore (aka Body Surfing)

• You might think this is only useful if you're a surfer or body surfer, but knowing how to catch a wave to the shore is sometimes the best way to get back if you feel you've gone out too far.
• Body surfing is surprisingly simple. Just find a good sized wave to ride back. Then, depending on how deep you are in the water, you may be able to push off the ocean floor or just start swimming toward the shore. Either way, start swimming a little bit before the wave gets to you and try to get your hips and legs up level with or slightly above your head and shoulders so that the wave will pick you up and carry you like a surf board.
• Then, if you're lucky, you can ride the wave all the way in and viola!--you're back on shore!
• Be careful, though. You can wipe out body surfing. But a little wipe out is usually better than getting stuck out at sea.

3. How to Avoid Stingrays

• Don't worry about this too much unless there's a stingray warning.
• Stingrays want to avoid you just as much as you want to avoid them. But if they feel threatened, their sting can be one of the most painful stings in the world. So, best to be prepared.
• To avoid stingrays, shuffle your feet when you're walking on the ocean ground so they know you're coming, especially if you're going where not a lot of people are swimming already.
• Better yet, shuffle your feet BEFORE they touch the ocean floor, since sting rays often swim near the bottom and will know you're there and swim away if they're beneath you. I've actually seen stingrays swim away from beneath me after I did this!

4. How to Avoid Jellyfish 

• Again, don't worry about this unless there's a jellyfish warning at the where beach you're swimming.
• Jellyfish do not generally swim near the ocean floor so avoiding them is a bit different. Make sure you know if there is a jellyfish warning in your area and watch out for them.
• If there is a strong jellyfish warning, wearing a wet suit is the best way to protect yourself from stings.
• Whether or not you have a wet suit on, holding still is actually a better bet here than moving around. Jellyfish won't sting unless they feel threatened either, but if you touch them or kick them, that will do the trick, so avoid moving around them and swim away stealthily, if possible. If you are near a rock or wall, put your back to it and hold still until you have room to swim away so none can come up behind you.

This post is not meant to scare you but to prepare you to have the time of your life and be safe. Swimming in the ocean is exhilarating and so much fun! So get out and swim! 

What are your safety tips for ocean swimming? Any helpful tips I missed? I would LOVE to hear them!