What Causes a ‘Rip Current’ and How Is It Different from Regular Waves?

Imagine you're in a bathtub. When you splash water around, it flows back to the other side, that’s like a rip current! Regular waves are like the splashes coming toward you, but rip currents are the hidden rivers of water that pull you away from the shore. They can be strong enough to push you far out into the sea, even if you're just swimming in shallow water.