The goal of this section is not to scare you but to make you aware of potential dangers that you can encounter when entering the Pacific Ocean.  With an estimated 11 to 14 million people visiting Huntington Beach each year, accidental deaths by drowning are rare. Some common sense tips will help you avoid the pitfalls a few unfortunate people have made.  Just being in a group does not assure you won't encounter problems. One drowning we witnessed happened when an 18-year-old man went too far into the water and was caught unaware by a rip current at Bolsa Chica State Beach. He was up to his chest in water when the rip current grabbed him. He went under and his friends who were only a few feet away could not find him. After an intensive search and rescue effort of 50 lifeguards and 2 helicopters, his body washed ashore in Surfside hours later.

Another extremely unfortunate accident that occurs to even veteran surfers is a broken neck, spinal injury and paralysis. Innocent youth and adults who run and dive into the water can encounter sand instead water. And surfers on boards are injured by being dumped with strong force into sandbars while riding on a wave. Sometimes the accidents just happen and the surfer was unable to anticipate a condition. But at a minimum, do not run and dive into the water near the shore. It's best to walk into the surf.

Safety Tips from the Beach Lifeguards:

Never swim alone.
Swim near a lifeguard.
Never drink alcohol before swimming.
Check with the lifeguards for current ocean conditions. 
Learn about these currents below:

SLEEPER WAVES:  Without warning, huge "sleeper" waves sometimes hit the shore. These giants crash  much farther up the beach than normal waves. They can knock down both children and adults, and  drag them into deep water. Always keep an eye on the surf and keep children away from the foam line.