RIP current zones along beaches in Goa, west coast of India

Abstract

Goa has a 125-km-long coastline of which two-thirds consists of beautiful sandy beaches. There are mainly 17 beaches having significant importance of tourism. Sporadically, surf drownings have been reported at a few stretches of the beach. Longshore currents were measured at 2-week intervals from November 1993 to October 1994 along these beaches to identify the zones of strong longshore currents and rip currents. Entire beaches were found to be unsafe for swimming during the southwest monsoon season. Parts of stations 5 and 6 in Harmal Beach, 16 at Vagator Beach, 51-54 at Miramar Beach, 75 and 76 at Valsao Beach, 84 at Majorda Beach, and 116 at Palolem Beach are observed to have the risk of permanent rip current zones; and they are unsafe places for swimming all through the year. Parts of Colva, Banaulim, and Agonda beaches, which are suitable for surf swimming, are identified