Currents when surfing: how to spot them and react correctly
Maybe you know the feeling: you’re sitting relaxed on your surfboard, waiting for the next wave, and suddenly notice that you’re somewhere completely different from a few minutes ago. You’ve drifted sideways or even further away from the beach.
In this article
At a glance
Longshore current
Sideways water movement along the coast.
Rip current
Return flow from the shore towards open water. Schematic, not a map of a real spot.
Ocean currents may be behind this. They’re part of surfing, but they’re not always easy to spot.
Especially as a beginner, you should know which currents exist, how to recognise them and how to act in an emergency. Because the better you understand the sea, the safer your decisions can be.
Which currents are there in surfing?
Currents are created by waves, wind, tides and the shape of the seabed, among other things. For you as a surfer, two types are particularly important.
1. Longshore current: when you drift sideways
A longshore current is a coastal current that runs parallel to the beach. It forms mainly when waves hit the coast at an angle.
While you’re sitting in the line-up, it can make you drift sideways without noticing.
How to keep your bearings:
- Before paddling out, pick a fixed reference point on land.
- Check your position regularly.
- React early if you start drifting.
- Choose a safe exit if you can only hold your position with great effort.
A light longshore current isn’t automatically dangerous. What matters is where it takes you and whether you can still control the situation.
AI-generated
2. Rip current: when the water pulls you away from the beach
A rip current, also called a rip, is a concentrated flow of water running from the beach out to sea.
When waves carry water towards the beach, that water has to flow back out. If the return flow collects in a channel between sandbanks, for example, a strong rip can form.
Important to know: a rip current pulls you away from the beach, but not under water.
It becomes dangerous mainly if you panic and try to paddle straight back against the current. You can quickly exhaust yourself that way.
Particularly tricky: rips can occur where the water looks relatively calm.
Coral-coloured arrows: water movement. A gap in the surf is not a safe entry point. Schematic illustration, not a real surf spot.
How do you recognise dangerous currents?
Before every surf session, take a few minutes to watch the sea from the beach.
These signs can indicate a current:
- Gaps between breaking waves: an area where noticeably few waves break can be a deeper channel with a rip.
- Different water colours: darker areas or stirred-up sand can indicate changes in water depth and currents.
- Foam or seaweed: if foam is clearly moving away from the beach, a rip current may be behind it.
- Unusually moving water: narrow areas with a churned-up or choppy surface can indicate currents.
- Surfers drifting sideways: if others constantly have to correct their position, there could be a longshore current.
But be careful: none of these signs is reliable proof. Currents can also be present without you clearly recognising them.
So don’t rely on the water surface alone. At unfamiliar spots, it’s better to ask lifeguards or experienced surf instructors about the conditions.
Possible signs
- Gap between breaking waves
- Foam or water moving seaward
- Different water colour or choppy surface
A single sign doesn’t prove a current. The absence of signs doesn’t rule one out.
Before paddling out: look carefully
What to do if you get caught in a rip current?
You’re paddling towards the beach but hardly making any progress? You may be in a rip current.
Stay as calm as possible and save your energy. Don’t try to paddle or swim with all your strength straight back to the beach against the current.
Stay with your surfboard if possible: it gives you buoyancy. Draw attention to yourself early by waving and shouting if you need help – not only after an attempt to get out has failed.
If your strength and the situation allow, you can try to move out of the current parallel to the beach. This is one possible option, not a guaranteed escape route. Don’t wear yourself out. If you can’t get out, use your board’s buoyancy and keep signalling that you need help.
Only once you’re out of the current and can see a suitable way back should you try to return to the shore at an angle and at a distance from the current. Waves, obstacles and your strength remain decisive. Don’t rely on the current automatically taking you somewhere safe.
First stay calm, use your board’s buoyancy and signal for help early. The dashed line shows only one possible option if your strength and the conditions allow. Not a guaranteed escape route; only assess a suitable way back once you’re out of the current.
What if you can’t get out of the current?
Try not to exhaust yourself completely.
Stay on your surfboard if possible, save your energy and draw attention to yourself by waving and shouting.
Some rips get weaker beyond the surf zone. However, you shouldn’t rely on that.
If you’re in difficulty, signal early that you need help.
The US weather and ocean agency NOAA also recommends not fighting rip currents, escaping parallel to the coast where possible and calling for help if needed.
More on this: NOAA – Rip Current Safety.
Before surfing: the quick current check
A safe surf session starts on the beach. Before you go into the water, you should be able to answer these questions:
Our tip: if you can’t assess the currents or can’t see a safe way back, it’s better to stay on land.
And if you notice in the water that you’re getting increasingly tired or constantly have to paddle against a strong current, end your session in good time.
You don’t have to surf every wave. Sometimes the best decision is to wait for more suitable conditions.
What to do if someone else gets into trouble?
You see someone being pulled out by a current?
Then quick but considered help is needed.
- Inform the lifeguards immediately or call the local emergency services. In Spain, the emergency number is 112.
- Call out to the person to stay calm and not fight the current, if they can hear you.
- If possible, throw them a suitable floating object.
- Don’t swim after them without protection. Otherwise you could put yourself in danger too.
Even good surfers aren’t automatically trained water rescuers.
Surfing together: why a buddy makes sense
With a surf buddy, surfing isn’t just more fun. You can also keep an eye on each other.
Before paddling out, talk briefly about where you want to surf and what safe exits there are. Keep each other in sight during the session.
Especially as a beginner, it makes sense to get to know currents under expert guidance first.
However, a buddy is no substitute for a realistic assessment of the conditions or for professional rescue services.
Frequently asked questions about currents when surfing
Can a rip current pull me under water?
No, a rip current is a mainly horizontal current that carries you away from the beach. It doesn’t pull you down to the seabed. The main dangers are panic, exhaustion and the extra strain from the waves.
Are areas without breaking waves safer?
Not necessarily. A gap between breaking waves can indicate a deeper channel with a rip. Calm water therefore doesn’t automatically mean safety.
Can currents be dangerous even with small waves?
Yes. Dangerous rips can form even with small waves. Their strength depends on the wave conditions, the water level and the seabed, among other things.
Should I leave my surfboard in a rip current?
Generally not. Your surfboard gives you buoyancy and helps you save energy. Stay with your board if possible and signal early if you need help.
What do I do if I drift sideways while surfing?
Use a fixed point on the beach for orientation. Don’t try to paddle against the longshore current with all your strength for long periods. Look for a safe exit early and make sure you don’t drift towards rocks or reefs.
Understanding currents means surfing more safely
You don’t have to be able to spot every current straight away. Learning to read the sea takes time and practice.
What matters is that you stay alert, know your limits and know when it’s better to get out of the water.
If you’d like to learn to assess waves and currents better, we’d be happy to support you in our surf course on Fuerteventura.
Because the better you understand the sea, the more relaxed you can focus on what we love so much about surfing: the next beautiful wave.
Sources & further reading
Publisher: FreshSurf Cotillo S.L.
El Cotillo, Fuerteventura
Questions or comments about the article: office@freshsurf.de
