Undertows
An undertow was always something you read about in mystery novels and saw on Discovery Channel but never thought existed near you. I use to think about this until a couple of adventurers were swept off the rocks at Peggy’s Cove by a rogue wave. This happened a few years ago and only one body was recovered.
What Is It?
An undertow can be compared to a rip tide which is caused by wave action which sends a narrow but powerful current of water from the shore out to sea. On beaches it occurs when incoming waves create an underwater sandbar close to shore. The landward waves force water water in between the sandbar and the shore until a section of this sandbar collapses. A submarine current then races out to sea taking all debris with it. Even a strong swimmer has problems escaping its grip.
An undertow can occur in any underwater terrain and is wider than a rip tide. The way to escape a rip tide or an undertow is not to swim against it. This will just tire you out. Instead swim with it while consistently pulling over to the left or right.
Undertows are more prevalent the day after a storm because the wave action is intense. It is best to stay out of the water during this time.
Leave a comment!