Red Flag at Drop Beach Today ( Wednesday )

woe10 · October 30, 2013, 14:59:49 PM

Rough seas at Drop Beach this morning. Red flag at the far end of the beach.
Note the people playing in the dark patch of the sea. This is a typical sign of a "Rip Tide". Waves each side and the dark strip is the "River" which will drag you out to sea. Some of these were children. The only sign on the Beach, is one saying No Dogs. No Lifeguard, incredible.
Click the image.

Spike On Q · October 30, 2013, 18:51:15 PM

And this is a beach where people die!

Charlie dont surf · October 30, 2013, 20:08:15 PM

Potentially seconds from death. Think you can only appreciate how dangerous this might be if you've been caught in a rip. And then you feel lucky to be alive to make it back onto dry ground. Hope they all made it back safely.

KWC · October 30, 2013, 20:45:07 PM

Excuse my ignorance here, but where is drop beach ?

Spike On Q · October 30, 2013, 20:55:00 PM

Heading into the Dunes National Park from Puerto it is the first beach that you come. Its below the road level. The really dangerous part is to the south of the beach around the rocks

Rips are deadly as people try and swim against them, making for the shore - impossible.They are formed by gullies in the beach where outgoing water is directed into the gully creating a strong outgoing current. [I'm sure someone can come up with a video of the effect]

Swim parallel to the beach until you clear the rip and then swim ashore - It's difficult, but about the only way out unless you can get help!

KWC · October 31, 2013, 07:54:29 AM

Quote from: Spike On Q on October 30, 2013, 20:55:00 PM
Heading into the Dunes National Park from Puerto it is the first beach that you come. Its below the road level. The really dangerous part is to the south of the beach around the rocks

Rips are deadly as people try and swim against them, making for the shore - impossible.They are formed by gullies in the beach where outgoing water is directed into the gully creating a strong outgoing current. [I'm sure someone can come up with a video of the effect]

Swim parallel to the beach until you clear the rip and then swim ashore - It's difficult, but about the only way out unless you can get help!

Thanks for that Spike. Must have passed it dozens of times and just didn't know the name of that beach, and Im sure there will be more I don't know

PHo · October 31, 2013, 10:04:35 AM

Its Spanish name is Playa del Poris, pronounced Porees. Poris is a Canarian word meaning a little natural port.
Totally agree about escaping by swimming parallel to the coast; we were caught by this rip as a family many years ago and we survived by doing this, luckily we were all strong swimmers.

woe10 · October 31, 2013, 10:26:13 AM

Spike: The Video is here --

http://www.fuerteventura-forum.com/index.php?topic=16509.msg290645#msg290645

Paddster · October 31, 2013, 10:29:00 AM

Can't believe that ? Obviously not locals.........So bloody dangerous /

zedzedeleven · October 31, 2013, 11:29:18 AM

I bet there isn`t one touristy holidaymaker in a thousand knows anything at all about rip currents. They probably think they are something you get in a fruit cake. In the photograph I would guess that their logic has been to swim in the middle, equidistant from the nasty rocky bits. Let`s hope they were only germans.

Paddster · October 31, 2013, 11:33:24 AM

Quote from: zedzedeleven on October 31, 2013, 11:29:18 AM
I bet there isn`t one touristy holidaymaker in a thousand knows anything at all about rip currents. They probably think they are something you get in a fruit cake. In the photograph I would guess that their logic has been to swim in the middle, equidistant from the nasty rocky bits. Let`s hope they were only germans.

Get ready for ya backlash zed

Blueboy7 · October 31, 2013, 11:47:03 AM

Just wish I was on the beach with them.

woe10 · October 31, 2013, 13:19:33 PM

Quote from: Paddster on October 31, 2013, 10:29:00 AM
Can't believe that ? Obviously not locals.........So bloody dangerous /

You're right, they are tourists with kids. No they don't know about Rip-Currents because NOBODY told them. There are NO SIGNS on the Beach, and yes, they automatically head for the calm, flat bit which is the Rip, going back into the sea like a strong river.

On an Island like this, Holiday Reps should be making this part of their Welcome Speech instead of trying to sell stupid excursions. But in the end, do they listen

Charlie dont surf · October 31, 2013, 22:22:13 PM

Unfortunately, not always so easy to spot a rip current. You might need to watch the movement of water for some time and even then it might not be obvious. Sand banks beneath the surface can move around, especially in a big swell such as on this day. The lure of a dip to cool off might be too strong to realise the dangers beneath.

Paddster · November 01, 2013, 09:23:39 AM

Quote from: woe10 on October 31, 2013, 13:19:33 PM
Quote from: Paddster on October 31, 2013, 10:29:00 AM
Can't believe that ? Obviously not locals.........So bloody dangerous /

You're right, they are tourists with kids. No they don't know about Rip-Currents because NOBODY told them. There are NO SIGNS on the Beach, and yes, they automatically head for the calm, flat bit which is the Rip, going back into the sea like a strong river.

On an Island like this, Holiday Reps should be making this part of their Welcome Speech instead of trying to sell stupid excursions. But in the end, do they listen

Absolutely spot on woe - i remember the video you posted on here regarding "rips" - very enlightening and i for one watched it countless times to memorise it - you just never stop learning in life and one day you might need to call on it...You're so right about the Reps should be throwing this info in there at the welcome meetings mate.....

KWC · November 01, 2013, 13:54:27 PM

They won't do that Paddster because they will want to keep every thing nice and rosey to the new comers (I assume it will be only new comers etc to these boring as feck meeting full of sales patter)

They won't also mention about the muggers, car and house break ins, the over zealous police state, that they have just dropped into and other little welcome "oh by the way" comments of advice

Paddster · November 01, 2013, 21:16:19 PM

Quote from: KWC54 on November 01, 2013, 13:54:27 PM
They won't do that Paddster because they will want to keep every thing nice and rosey to the new comers (I assume it will be only new comers etc to these boring as feck meeting full of sales patter)

They won't also mention about the muggers, car and house break ins, the over zealous police state, that they have just dropped into and other little welcome "oh by the way" comments of advice

I get you Kenny but it should be mentioned shouldn't it ? As for the muggers - come on ? It's happening at night into the early hours-3am etc - not during the day - if you're micturated up and staggering you're a target regardless of where you are in the dark - recession/high unemployment make people desperate like other countries all over the world - let's not make Fuerte out like it's Columbia/Brazil/Mexico etc etc....It's called survival my good friend...

Ivemovedon · November 01, 2013, 21:39:50 PM

No its not survival Pad. Folks were a lot poorer half a century ago and never felt the need to take what wasn't theirs for survival. They just worked a bit harder to get what they wanted. Too many excuses made these days by the do gooders on behalf of the wrong 'uns... ends up making them think they are entitled to rob someone because they are owed it.