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A "rip current", the proper term for riptide, is a current of water that can knock you off your feet and carry you a distance out toward the sea. It is formed by breaking waves where the water that returns back out to sea from either side of the current converges. Water from both sides of the rip current rushes back out in one place. Often you can see them. They do not drag you underwater. To escape it, don't fight it, but swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim back to shore. If you find yourself unable to reach shore, wave your arms and yell for assistance. An "undertow" happens when the waves are breaking strongly, one on top of the other before the first wave has a chance to receed. A large volume of water builds up and the wave underneath goes back out forcefully while another wave is coming into the shore on top of it. To escape it, do not panic, and do not fight it. You MAY quickly make contact with the bottom where you can push off with your feet to reach the surface. But in most cases, an undertow will pull you under the watter and, quickly take you km's out to sea (Because they often happen on beaches with a deep and quick dropoff) If you miss the signs and get caught in one of these, your best defense is to know what to do, stay calm, and know how to swim in the surf. Surf swimming and pool swimming are different. If you are not a strong swimmer, swim with a buddy in a lifeguarded area. The lifeguard can often tell you where the rip currents are.

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Q: What is the difference between a riptide and an undertow?
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