SDI Open Water Scuba Diver Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the SDI Open Water Diver Exam. Dive into multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations to gear up for the certification. Start your underwater adventure today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the most effective way to get out of a rip current?

Swim back directly to shore
Float on your back until help arrives
Swim parallel to shore until out of the current
Signal for assistance from boaters

The correct answer is: Swim parallel to shore until out of the current

The most effective way to escape a rip current is to swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current’s pull. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow away from the shore, and attempting to swim directly back to shore against the current can lead to exhaustion and a greater risk of danger. By swimming parallel to the beach, a swimmer can work their way out of the narrow, fast-moving water of the rip current and into the calmer areas where they can swim back to shore more safely. While floating on your back can be a helpful strategy for conserving energy and waiting for help, it does not effectively remove a swimmer from the immediate danger of the rip current. Similarly, signaling for assistance might be wise if no other option is available, but it does not provide a proactive measure for getting out of the current. Directly swimming back to shore might seem like a natural instinct, but it is often impractical against the current's strength, leading to fatigue or injury.