The Ocean: Danger and Safety
A few weeks ago, Cryptopulco’s own Danny Sessom pulled a teenage girl out of the ocean. She was unconscious, and was revived with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If Danny hadn’t been there, the girl would have died.
Danny tells the story here:
When you come down to Acapulco, one of the greatest risks you’ll face is the ocean. The ocean is part of why we converge in Acapulco: it’s beautiful and fierce, a force of nature, the ultimate symbol of untamed freedom. But like all freedom, it’s dangerous.
What’s a rip tide?
We usually think of waves as moving towards the shore. But sometimes, waves can combine to create powerful currents pulling away from the shore. This is called a rip tide, or rip current. If you get caught in one of these, you may find yourself pulled far out to sea, very quickly.
If you find yourself in a rip current, swimming directly towards shore is futile: it’ll tire you out, and may lead to panic. The best strategy is to swim towards the shore at an angle, until you’re free from the rip tide.
Another type of current is called an undertow. An undertow is a type of current which pulls swimmers down, beneath the surface. Most undertows are not very strong (rip tides are the greater danger). The strategy if you find yourself in an undertow is the same: swim towards the shore at an angle.
When you come down to Anarchapulco, there are ways you can reduce your risk. Here are a few we recommend:
- When swimming, don't go beyond the second wave line.
- Once again, if you get caught in a riptide, swim at an angle to the shore, not directly against the current
- If you're in trouble, wave both arms in the air. This is a known sign of distress, and if someone sees they'll come help.
- If you want to go surfing, hire a local surf instructor for a lesson. Even expats who are experienced surfers won’t be as familiar with the ‘lay of the land,’ and won’t be aware of local safety concerns and protocols.
- Consider not getting in the water if you are under the influence of any substance, such as alcohol.
Bonfil beach has a system of volunteer lifeguards, but this system is fairly casual. On the beach, you’re responsible for your own safety. At Anarchapulco, we want everyone to have an amazing time, and stay as safe as possible while being free.
If you’ve got other tips for ocean safety, leave them in the comments on our blog or email us!