When I was researching information for my tidepooling post, I came across a term I hadn’t heard before and it’s an important one to know–Sneaker waves.
Sneaker waves are the waves that appear in the ocean when you least expect them. According to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department Web site, this type of wave often has a “deadly force” and sand mixed in with the water. Once sand laden water covers you, the sand adds weight to your clothes and can bog you down, thus making it hard to escape the wave’s force. Here’s a more detailed description. Of note, in the United States, Oregon, Washington and Northern California, sneaker waves occur daily. In the rest of the United States, they are not as common.
For this reason, never turn your back on the ocean. Also recommended, avoid hanging around large logs and debris and stay off of jetties, particularly when there is a storm coming in or during the peak of changing tides. Read more about coast hazards here.