A rip current is a swift current of water which flows from shore out to sea. It is caused by an excess of water accumulating inside the surfline from the incoming wave action. Seeking its own natural level, the water flows back out to sea through the lowest point in the bottom. A strong current is created. A rip current can usually be indentified by brownish, choppy water, which appears to be pulling out to sea.
Rip currents are very dangerous and can pull people out to sea.
Swim parallel to shore until you are out of the rip current, then swim safely into shore. Backwash is the flowing, or rushing, of water down the berm from the shore to the surf zone. It is caused by the natural sucking of water into an oncoming wave as it approaches shore. Backwash can become strong and dangerous when the beach is steep, causing the waves to break close to shore. The backwash will then make it difficult to gain a foothold in the sand.