Riptide Warnings, Costa Rica
 

Florida man missing in Costa Rica
A college student from Florida is missing in Costa Rica since January 4, 2011. He was at Playa Dominical swimming with a group of friends, when he got caugt in a riptide.
http://latinamericacurrentevents.com...ng-costa-rica/

Please take this warning seriously, not only for Dominical, but for every beach. Ask the locals about the ocean conditions before you head in for a swim. I am often shocked to see tourists swimming in the waters off of La Leona / Carate on the Osa Peninsula, which also is known for it's strong currents and Bull Sharks. It is unfortunate that several tourists have drown over the years on this beach as well. Just because you think your a strong swimmer, please think twice, your life is more valuable than a swim at the beach.

Pura Vida,
Ballardo Diaz, jungle guide

Ballardo, well said and needs to be posted often. And people worry about theft. So few understand the danger and how many beaches are affected!

They found him --- very sad: http://www.ticotimes.net/News/News-B...anuary-07-2011

Very sad indeed.

Are the riptides there most of the time or do they come and go?

Just in case anyone reading this thread doesn't know the basic survival advice if caught in a riptide:
0) avoid getting caught in one, see Ballard's advice above;
1) don't fight the current, swim PARALLEL to shore to get out of the rip current
2) THEN work back to shore, any shore.

Ballardo, not Ballard, sorry, typo.

I was just looking at Google Earth and now better understand the concerns with strong waves in the Carate vicinity (i.e., on the southwest face of the Osa Peninsula, from near Sirena to the tip of Cabo Matapalo). The NASA satellite imagery of the seabed shows that the land there comes almost to the edge of the continental shelf. That's quite unusual; very few places along the entire Pacific coast of North America have such deep water so close to shore.

Turns out I know someone who knew this guy; his funeral was today. Just thought I'd post this little update: http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=13891845

Also, my friend told me that while they were searching for his body, they rescued a father and daughter whose boat had sunk -- so two were saved by his loss, if there's a bright side to the story.

One hears constant questions about safety involving everything from spiders to snakes to banditos. The most dangerous things are water and cars.