Abstract
Rip currents are the leading cause of rescues and drownings across surf beaches globally. These currents are characterised as strong, narrow, seaward flows, responsible for the transportation of water and sediment from the beach face. Rip currents can be hazardous to beach users, irrespective of swimming ability, as swimmers are taken into deeper water, placing them at a risk of drowning or requiring rescuing. However, the level of risk and vulnerability to rip currents varies greatly between individuals based on the level of knowledge or lack thereof. Studies have shown that beach users struggle or are unable to correctly identify a rip current when shown photographs or while standing at the beach. Therefore, questions have arisen over whether photos remain an effective medium to assess identification literacy. This thesis investigated whether beach users are more effective at identifying rip currents in photographs or in 15-second videos of beaches with and without rips. A mixed-method approach was employed using a questionnaire which was administered to 52 beach users at Ocean Beach, Ōtepoti Dunedin. Findings indicate that beach users are only able to identify rip currents in photographs and videos 50% of the time with both media receiving a median value of two correct identifications. Beach users with better education or beach experience were better at identifying rip currents in videos than other groups. Identification in videos for respondents with previous surf related experience and rip current education received a median of 75% in correct identification, in comparison to those without having a median of 50%. Videos effectiveness as a medium for rip current identification is demonstrated in the contrast between beach users who had education and experience compared to those without. The findings of this thesis have implications for the future of rip current education through improvement of educational campaigns and strategies with the use of videos, along with providing an additional means to test beach users’ identification ability.