A rip current won't pull you underwater. It'll just pull you away from shore. If you feel that you're able to swim, do so parallel to the shore until you're out of the current and then swim back to shore at an angle. If you feel that you can't swim, tread or back float, try to wave and yell for help while floating.

Can undertow pull you under?

An undertow can pull someone underwater for a few seconds, but if the swimmer remains calm and swims towards the surface, he or she should be OK. This current is not usually strong enough to prevent the swimmer from returning to shore, unlike a rip current, which could carry the swimmer out to sea.

Are there currents that can pull you underwater?

"There is no current that will pull you under in the ocean." There are many different types of rip currents, and they form in several ways. Quickly changing wave heights, which occur when a large set of swells rolls in, can trigger a rip current. ... Breaking waves are the key ingredients for all rip currents.