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I don't want to sound like an elitist know-it-all or even categorize people into stereotypes based on where they come from, live now or their culture. But it is the time of year when visitors to the Pacific Ocean coast need to be very aware of the ocean, tides, currents and wave action. It is winter time, and we get big waves on the coast.

This is one of my pet peeves, if you are not from the area near the ocean, please show caution toward it. Surfers, divers and kayakers do and we live here.

"A man has got to know his limitations" really applies here because if you are not a water person, you will soon be out of your league, if you approach the ocean with a callous manner.

Having been an ocean watcher and observer for over 50 years, I have seen, read about or heard about people near the shore being swept off the rocks, the sand or standing in a tidal pool by wave action.

Most of these (no, not all) have involved people and visitors to the ocean who live in inland areas and are not familiar with the ocean. I have pulled several people from the water who were swept in. Even I see someone wading into the water in long pants, usually blue jeans, my antennae go up, because it is an accident waiting to happen.

People whose culture is not oriented to the ocean are some of the worst offenders. They perch themselves on rocks to get a better look and they get swept in by a rogue wave or a large clean up set.

They set themselves up with their backs to the ocean and they are not aware that huge amounts of white water are about to break on them. Following are excerpts from an article that came out over Thanksgiving weekend.




"'Both were dragged into the ocean,' Jones said of Saturday's tragedy.

"The Times-Standard reports the couple's daughter called police.


"Rescuers eventually retrieved the mother's body and the father's body washed up.

"The dog got out of the water on its own, Jones said.


There is a key component mentioned here in this tragic story: The dog got out of the water on its own.

This is a common phenomenon with animals, dogs especially. Most often, if they are caught up in the water, they can make it out on their own. Most animals can swim naturally and most breeds of dogs, if on a beach break, can and will rescue themselves.

Several years ago, near Dunes surfing break, I watched a deer get chased into the water and then use the currents and drift along the shoreline until there was a current that helped it get in closer to the tide line.

So here is what you can do to help others in this big wave season.

If you see visitors to the beach, rocks and tide pool area and they are getting into an area that you would not even go into, just use a reminder that the waves are unpredictable in the area. When visitors have their backs to the ocean and don't see waves coming, that is time to speak up.

I have witnessed or participated in 14 rescues, drowning or near drowning, and I have had plenty of my share of bad wipeouts and hold downs in the ocean. I have rescued five people from Monterey Bay surf spots and each time it deepens my awareness of how powerful the ocean is and how people panic when they lose control of their surroundings.

Have a safe big wave season.
