When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. In the last five years alone, these sea predators have claimed the lives of eight people. "If there are no breaking waves, there won't be any rip currents," Carey said. Surviving a rip current starts before you even enter the water, Carey said. Undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau made this hole incredibly famous when he declared it part of the top 10 worlds best diving locations in 1971. Our recommendation? NY 10036. These dangerous beaches are not for the faint of heart. Its depths hold countless wonders, from vibrant coral reefs teeming with life to strange and unknown creatures that have yet to be discovered. A haven during the stifling Texan summer . This 500 mile-wide passage of ocean resides between Cape Horn and Livingston Island, making it the shortest crossing from Antarctica to any other landmass. It's known as the shark attack capital of the world: New Smyrna Beach-goers are more at risk for shark attacks than anywhere else in the world. This ocean water is usually affected by coastal winds, temperature of the water surface and the water currents. As a result, a growing body of scientific research suggests that marine wildlife are accumulating dangerous amounts of "forever chemicals.". They vary from gentle to aggressive. Remy Melina was a staff writer for Live Science from 2010 to 2012. One thing is for certain: Ghosts and poisonous snakes do not make for a relaxing beach getaway. Their shells are often colorful, displaying interesting and complex patterns. This beach in Port St. Johns is one of the worlds most notorious for shark attacks, most of which are caused by bull sharks. That right there should be your first red flag. Answer (1 of 10): Neither. (And you definitely won't find a hidden pirate treasure). . These dangerous currents generally form at a low point in a sandbar. Too much heat and sun can spoil a vacation. pass through this area, which make it difficult for gas and oil production, often meaning delays and interruptions with workers having to be evacuated to the mainland. Prevailing ocean currents in the area flow from south to north, carrying as much as 140 million . The various forces determine the size, speed direction, and shape of ocean currents. Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, causing more deaths than floods, lightning, tornados, and hurricanes combined. Unlike most beaches on Kauai, Hanakapiai has no reef barrier to resist the powerful ocean currents which hit the shore with full force. St. Elmo's Fire is a colorful discharge of atmospheric electricity that typically occurs during a thunderstorm. Cook Strait is 22 km wide and is one of the most unpredictable waters in the world. If a lifeguard isn't available, call 911. But if you're visiting Recife, a former favorite among surfers, there is one beach that is best left alone. All rights reserved. Strong currents are common, and many beaches in the South Pacific suffer from accidents caused by rip . Enough said. 2. Given that Haina is nicknamed "Dominican Chernobyl," we advise you to stay away from the area as a whole. These murky waters are a breeding ground for electric eels, anacondas, piraas and the candiru, a parasitic fish that can invade the human body from any opening (yes, any opening). A lead-battery recycling center left the community of Haina exposed to toxic waste and lead poisoning. So if you ever find yourself in one of these locations, make sure to have a real professional close by and be extremely careful. Depending on the force, they can be extremely dangerous and disorient people who get caught in them. Their venom is rarely fatal, but there have been examples of extreme allergic reactions resulting in hospitalization and death. This 30-foot natural well fed by incredibly crystal-clear spring water has been a long-time attraction for Texas locals during the swelteringly hot summer months. 11 Cute Frogs You Will Love (with Pictures) 10 of the Most Interesting Deep Sea Fish . Barracudas are predatory fish that are notorious for their aggressive behavior. They are easily recognizable due to their yellow skin and blue and black rings. You can enter the planet through the Pacific and exit the other side while still being in it. Located along the coast of Queensland, it touts alluring sandy stretches and palm-fringed aquamarine waters, but youve been warned: dozens of natural booby traps await. The ocean is a world full of mysteries and secrets waiting to be uncovered. How did this affect the depth of water in the oceans? Dangerous aspects: can bite through flesh. Sailing toward a front, with increasing clouds, wind, waves, and rain. "That may help guide you out of the rip.". However, the Israeli government warns beachgoers to exercise caution, as the area's occasional strong winds can result in people being swept out into the Gulf of Eilat. Back in the 1950s this small island was the site of a series of nuclear tests carried out by the United States. Illustration by Mary Crooks. There have been over 80 . How to break the grip from the rip: First, don't panic. Questions? A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward. Swimming in a pool is not the same as swimming at a surf beach with crashing waves, winds, and dangerous currents. The water tends to be cold enough that it requires a wetsuit in order to go in. It is divided into five main regions: the Arctic, Antarctic, Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is 22 kilometres wide at its narrowest point and is considered to be one of the most dangerous and unpredictable waters in the world. The sting of the Chironex fleckeri can result in death in less than five minutes. In all fairness, Rockaway Beach is dangerous because humans have rendered it so by building jetties on it. Local authorities suggest that you check the state of the beach on government websites before heading there, which makes Magnolia Lane Beach really not worth the trouble. Once in the ocean, PFAS can persist for decades or longer and travel long distances. "The Goonies" put this beach on the radar for every child of the 1980s and '90s. While not technically a beach, Lake Nicaragua has been included here thanks to the tenacity of bull sharks, which have somehow managed to make a few guest appearances in the largest lake in Central America. It has a reputation of being powerful and unpredictable with many old stories of ill-fated voyages of explorers getting caught up in the vast violent waters. The fear of shark attacks has taken a toll on local tourism, helping to preserve the natural beauty of the island but, sadly, stifling the local economy. Swimmers should be especially cautious during storm events, which may increase the frequency and strength of rip currents. Northern Territory may be one of the most interesting regions of Australia, but it seems like wild danger lurks everywhere. The notorious Drake Passage, also referred to as the Sea of Hoces, is located at the southern tip of South America and is the shortest crossing from Antarctica to the rest of the world, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Shenzhen Beach is another spot rendered dangerous by humans. Also, because of its extreme depth, when something goes wrong on a dive, it can become quickly fatal without proper training. according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association, Find Out Your Odds of Dying from Various Phenomena. There are many animals we usually fear when we go to the beach but foxes aren't necessarily one of them. "There is no current that will pull you under in the ocean.". It is believed that there are 51 different species of box jellyfish. 11 Cute Frogs You Will Love (with Pictures), 8 Bioluminescence Creatures that Glow the Ocean, 4 Common Types of Coastal Wetlands (and Benefits), 10 of the Best Beach Sunset Locations in the World. Swim at a lifeguard-protected beach and talk to the lifeguard on duty about ocean conditions for the day," she said. Plenty, it turns out. The time between November and June is notoriously called "stinger season" because of the jellyfish that infest the areas waters. But it also contains some of the most dangerous water currents of all the Great Lakes. Description. The Atlantic Ocean, seen here at sunrise in Delaware, acts like a giant conveyor belt, pushing warm and cold currents around the world. Their bites are not venomous, but they are painful and can inflict serious injury, such as puncture wounds. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy. The area is hounded by belts of strong winds that circle the earth around 40 degrees south, known as the Roaring Forties. "Essentially, they're rivers of the sea," said Wendy Carey, a coastal hazards specialist with the Delaware Sea Grant Advisory Service at the University of Delaware. "People start going under because they panic, and they feel like the current is pulling them under," Carey said. creatures, many are worth admiring, but some should be avoided at all costs. This is a map ocean surface currents from 1877. This doesn't stop pro surfers from coming here to try to make history by riding waves that are sometimes more than 70-feet high. On this list, readers will find ten of the most dangerous ocean creatures. So next time you go out on an aquatic journey, make sure to do your research! Hot springs can be incredibly wonderful places to experience, especially during the winter months when you can jump into a river or pool that is basically a natural hot tub. Scientists have been studying rip currents for more than 100 years. Additional reporting by Becky Oskin, Live Science Senior Writer. So far, eight people have been killed after diving too deep and becoming unable to make their way back to the surface. Overcast skies and furious currents are also features of the beach, which is honestly best appreciated from land and with a jacket on. When a sharp object (such as a ship's mast) comes in contact with an . And it's where most people would think well, this looks like a good place to wade. From Hawaii to Australia, India to Namibia, these destinations around the world are downright terrifying and sometimes even deadly, home to rampant shark attacks, eel-infested waters, deadly currents and toxic waste. This particular river actually contains serious amounts of heavy metals in its water. Sadly, this includes its once-beautiful beaches, which have been rendered hazardous from the large amounts of industrial waste dumped into them. Lionfish are great predators and are often a hazard to divers and fishermen. You should be a strong swimmer before you go into the ocean or Gulf of Mexico. . Saltstraumen is a small strait with the strongest tidal current in the world. With a long coastline along the Pacific, Chile has more than 909 beaches. Nicknamed "Trash Beach," its mountains of trash come not only from locals but from all over the world, as some of the plastic from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch washes up here. Compare and contrast different species of ocean animals, from their physical characteristics to their behavior and habitat. Stunning gem-covered gold earrings discovered in 800-year-old hoard in Germany, Jurassic Worlds bizarre, scythe-clawed dinosaur couldn't have been a slasher, study confirms, Lab-grown minibrains will be used as 'biological hardware' to create new biocomputers, scientists propose, The ultimate action-packed science and technology magazine bursting with exciting information about the universe, Subscribe today and save an extra 5% with checkout code 'LOVE5', Engaging articles, amazing illustrations & exclusive interviews, Issues delivered straight to your door or device, An area with a different color than the rest of the water, A line of foam, seaweed or debris that's moving out to sea. Almost all have their own unique dangers: Pacific Huge, and I mean HUGE. This creature is considered to be the most dangerous urchin in the world. To find out which beaches in the U.S. present the . This stunning South Pacific island in Micronesia has a seedy past. It averages about six current-related deaths per year, which is three times more than the next highest Great Lake. In fact, they are the most useful aspects or features of the ocean. A lot of incidents are recorded and 239 incidents happened in 1999. Not only that, but this is where 11 percent of all the shark attacks in the world take place. Nearly half of all rescues made by lifeguards atoceanbeaches are related to rip currents, according to the USLA. If your plans for a beach vacation include stress-free tanning, catching up on a good book and sipping a colorful beverage dont go to any of these beaches. But Kilaueau has spent the better part of 35 years erupting nearly continuously, spewing lava into the ocean and raising the water temperature up past 100 degrees. But divers need to be very aware when exploring its depths because its tides create powerful swirling vortexes that can suck in almost anything (or anyone). We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Can hard water cause eczema and psoriasis. Part of a series of articles titled They have distinctive spiky fins that radiate out around their bodies. Breaking waves are the key ingredients for all rip currents. ocean currents flow at the surface; others flow deep within water.. "There are still occasions where the drifters would not be brought back," she said. Sharks typically kill about 6 people a year globally. But, one species, hydrophis platurus, has a stronger and more potent venom than any terrestrial snake in the world. Both can and are equally dangerous. While many of the worlds most dangerous beaches are also among the most beautiful, we feel confident youll have no problem giving up Staithes Beach. Its iridescent, air-filled . These cookies do not store any personal information. And you thought bringing sand home in your shoes was the worst of your beach woes. A rip tide - or riptide - is a powerful current caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach. Namibia's Skeleton Coast along the country's northern Atlantic coast is hauntingly beautiful but very deadly at the same time. And finally, beware of the infamous stinging trees, featuring jagged leaves that can pick up where the cassowaries left off. Dumas Beach in the state of Gujarat, along the Arabian Sea, is considered to be one of the most haunted beaches in the world. It is located in the municipality of Bod in Nordland county, Norway. US Dept of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Weather Service Safety 1325 East West Highway Silver Spring, MD 20910 Comments? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "An adult standing in waist-deep water in a rip current would find it hard to stay in the same place," she said. Although production facilities are designed to withstand the violent storms associated with the area, sometimes the conditions are so bad, it is safer to leave. Swimmers are also often surprised by the sudden change from shallow to deep waters, which can cause unexpected incidents. Bikini Atoll, U.S. Marshall Islands. Longshore currents move parallel to the shore. Another one of the worlds beautiful (and extremely dangerous) sinkholes is located on the edge of the Red Sea, on the east coast of Egypts Sinai Peninsula. Not only is this gross, but it's also dangerous for your health. But the Tinto River in Spain is dangerous for reasons that are as unique as its strange reddish color. These waterfalls are only one reason why some consider this river to be so dangerous. In fact, the island has the highest density of plastic waste in the world. The Atlantic Ocean ranks the second in the catalogue of the most dangerous ocean waters in the world. Their stings are excruciating and can result in hospitalization and even death. And if you see someone who is caught in a rip current, don't become a victim yourself, the USLA warns. While Gansbaai Beach is an aquatic playground, it is also home to what is known as Shark Alley. There is one way to still enjoy the waters of Gansbaai though: by partaking in a shark-cage diving expedition to get up-close-and-personal with these sea creatures from the safety of an iron cage.