He Was Flying His Drone Over a Crowded Australian Beach When He Spotted an Underwater Tornado, Invisible and Dangerous for Anyone in the Water
Indian Defence Review • • world
Key Points:
- Photographer Jamen Percy accidentally captured a rare and massive oceanic whirlpool, or rip current vortex, off Manly Beach near Sydney using his drone, revealing a natural phenomenon rarely seen with such clarity.
- The whirlpool formed from multiple rip currents colliding and spiraling together, creating an underwater hurricane-like vortex invisible from the shore, making it particularly dangerous for swimmers and surfers.
- Recent intense ocean swell activity near Sydney contributed to the exceptional size and strength of the vortex, highlighting increased risks at popular beaches like Manly.
- Experts warn that swimmers caught in such currents should avoid fighting the pull directly and instead swim parallel to the shore to escape the vortex, then return diagonally to land to conserve energy and improve safety.
- This incident underscores the hidden dangers of rip currents and the importance of awareness and proper response strategies to prevent accidents in coastal waters.
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