Water Safety and Ocean Swimming
One of the best reasons to visit Dominical is for the surfing. But be careful! Take lessons and know your limits.
rip currents* are common
The water is warm and inviting, there are great waves for surfing, so what’s the problem? It’s not a problem, per se, but you do have to observe some safe ocean swimming rules when in Dominical and Costa Rican beaches in general. The main issue is the frequency of rip currents, which can sweep swimmers offshore and quickly tire them out if they struggle against the current. This discussion is broken into two parts: when rip currents are apt to happen, and what to do if you’re caught in one.
If you’re concerned about rip currents or unsure of your ocean swimming skills and you still want to go for a swim, we highly recommend that you swim in front of the salvavidas or lifeguards, who have a station in front of Dominical. They are trained to warn swimmers of areas where rip currents are common, using red flags on the beach.
*While this page originally used the term “riptides”, they are not related to tides and the accepted term is “rip currents.”
When and how do rip currents form?
You’ll hear descriptions of when rip currents form like “two hours before low tide” or “at high tide” or something else. Our experience is that you have to be vigilant all the time, and watch the surf carefully before going for a swim. They are frequently associated with low tide when there is a sandbar along the shore but can happen at any time.
Rip currents are easiest to see from an elevated viewpoint: a raised portion of the beach, or a point of land, or possibly a building. Often the outgoing current flattens the surf, and you may be able to see swirling water and sand as it is carried out to sea.
Another potential sign of where a rip current might form is when there are “highs” and “lows” on the shore, where the sand has built up in some areas and has been eroded in others. The riptides will flow offshore in the “low” areas, and they will be fed by water from the surrounding areas on either side.
The image on the right shows an example of where riptides are likely to form. See the crescent-shaped indentation in the shoreline? See the water running offshore in what appears to be a narrow stream? This is a characteristic of riptides, and can be seen on the beaches in Dominical.
How do I escape from a rip current?
The key to escaping a rip current is to not fight the current by swimming directly back to shore directly. The beach may be close, but the current flows faster than you can swim. Since rip currents are narrow, your best escape path is to swim parallel to the beach. Alternatively, since rip currents lose their strength and speed as they go offshore, tread water for a while to let it lose its strength, then swim to the side.
Remember:
Never swim alone, and never swim in the ocean at night.
If in doubt, swim where the lifeguards are present.
Survey the beach and water for signs that there may be a rip current in that area.
Don’t attempt to swim directly to shore. Wait, or swim parallel to the beach.
The Villas
There are lots of lovely places to stay in Costa Rica, yet very few are on the beach, and have direct access to the ocean. When we found a piece of property nestled in the forest but very close to the beach, we bought it despite the many complications of owning* property in the “Maritime Zone.” Regardless, we’re delighted we did because the proximity to the beach is vital to making full use of the beauty of Costa Rica
