INACTIVE RIP CURRENT

This rip isn’t strictly inactive (red circle). There is still a steep drop off into deeper water and a deep(er) channel, with more than likely a slight pull out. With the tide going out for another 1-2 hours, this would be inactive and basically a pool on the beach. With the tide going in for another 30 minutes + and a decent swell, this channel would become quite dangerous for unsuspecting swimmers and children.

Image supplied by Cornish Drone Photography

Firstly, there’s a steep drop-off…which could be problematic for children. It could also prove to problematic for swimmers, as it may take them by surprise.

Secondly, there will be a very strong pull straight out and slightly to the right (north - towards Gwynver Beach). Just remember that a rip current will generally only take you just out past the breaking waves, no further.

Thirdly, the channel looks deep. Really dark blue in the middle section…

I’ll also point out that if you look carefully, there’s a very similar rip up at Gwynver Beach, in the distance.

So if swimmers or kids popped into this calm looking pool, they might find a steep drop off into deep water. They would then probably experience an outgoing current (possibly a strong one), dragging the individual out past the breaking waves and slightly north.

So initially, you’d simply avoid this area. Although it looks calm and flat, it’s a dodgy area. If the tide was way out and this was a pool on the beach, there’s no issue with the kids playing in it…just keep an eye on the tide. If it starts to come in and the sea starts to join up with the pool. That’s the time to remove the kids from the water.

Sennen is also a lifeguarded beach, so we’d always encourage swimmers to swim between 10am - 6pm and follow the lifeguards advice ie. swim between the red and yellow flags.

If you look at the green sections on the image, these are quite shallow sand banks. So if you found yourself stuck in the current, best bet would be to swim sideways across the current and over to the sand bank. If you were camped or parked on the Sennen side, best swimming to the green circled area. No problem if you swam the other way (towards the straight green line), just means you’d have to hop across the rocks at the back of the beach, to get back to your belongings/car.

WAVES

As we do with a lot of our posts, we’ll highlight the waves breaking or lack there of. If you study the image, there are waves breaking either side of the rip current but not into it. This is due to the deep channel in the middle of the rip current and a lack of friction with the bottom of the wave and the sand beneath it. For more info on how and why waves break - CLICK HERE