This famed California beach is more dangerous than most individuals realize
Malibu, California, has earned a well-deserved reputation as one of the world’s premier seaside destinations.
The 21-mile coastline of this city is renowned for its pristine white beaches, picturesque piers, and spectacular surf, which attract over 15 million visitors annually.
However, before you don your swimsuit for a day of relaxation in the sun and sea, exercise caution.
According to experts, the waters of Malibu can be perilous, particularly during the summer, when lifeguards are preoccupied by powerful rip currents and shore breaks.
According to Captain Marco Rodriguez, a seasoned lifeguard with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Malibu’s beaches are more hazardous during the summer season because of their southern orientation, as opposed to the westward orientation of other Southern California beaches.
“Swells from the south tend to have a greater impact on Malibu’s beaches during the summer due to their south-facing orientation,” Rodriguez stated to KTLA 5 News. “The summer season is the most hazardous time of the year, as the beaches are at their most crowded.”
The notorious shore break, also referred to as a “shorepound” or “beach break,” is a feature of Malibu’s extremely popular Zuma Beach, which has been featured in dozens of films and television programs, including Baywatch.
Beachgoers who are merely seeking to cool off in the water may encounter waves that reach four or five feet and crash onto the wet shoreline. These conditions are ideal for skimboarders. However, for all other individuals, it could result in a hospital visit or worse.
“The shorepound has the potential to inflict severe injuries by striking you on the sand.” Rodriguez asserts, “We have observed individuals dislocate their shoulders and knees.” “If they are not familiar with the ocean’s capabilities, it is a simple matter to cause a disaster. Additionally, the presence of shorepound and powerful rip currents adds to the danger.”
Narrow, swift-moving water channels known as rip currents have the power to drag swimmers out to sea. The U.S. Lifesaving Association claims that rip currents cause more than 100 drowning deaths annually in the United States.
According to data, Malibu lifeguards saved the lives of about 2,000 swimmers between June 2023 and June 2024, with rip currents being a common cause of these rescues. Any beach can have them at any time of year, but as Rodriquez notes, summertime in Malibu is when they’re most common.
Because to the hazardous conditions, the presence of rip currents, and the vast number of people, he explains, lifeguards are occasionally always on the move.
Experts advise swimming parallel to the shore to escape a rip current because swimming against the current will quickly wear you out.
Rodriguez advises beachgoers to be aware of the weather and only swim in areas where lifeguards are present, regardless of their degree of experience.