Rip tide

When there is a falling or ebbing tide, the outflow water is strongly flowing through an inlet toward the sea, especially once stabilised by jetties.

For example, the ebbing tide at Shinnecock Inlet in Southampton, New York, extends more than 300 metres (980 ft) offshore.

A rip current is a strong, narrow jet of water that moves away from the beach and into the ocean as a result of local wave motion.

Rip currents can flow quickly, are unpredictable, and come about from what happens to waves as they interact with the shape of the sea bed.

In contrast, a rip tide is caused by tidal movements, as opposed to wave action, and is a predictable rise and fall of the water level.