Welcome to the DRIBS project

The DRIBS project stands for 'Dynamics of Rip Currents and Implications of Beach Safety'.

Based at the University of Plymouth, the project works in partnership with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Lifeguards to improve understanding of hazardous rip currents that are present around the UK coast.

Rip currents are responsible for hundreds of drownings and more than 100 000 lifeguard rescues on beaches around the world every year. The presence of rip currents are often associated with beaches along the sun-kissed coasts of Australia and the United States, but they are also very common in the UK too.

RNLI lifeguards, who patrol beaches throughout the UK, report that rip currents are responsible for 70% of all surf related incidents they respond to. This amounted more than 1000 rip current incidents during 2009.

Previous research at the University of Plymouth has identified the complex nature of rip current behaviour at UK beaches. Rip current systems are influenced by constantly varying wave conditions, large tides and beaches that constantly change shape throughout the year.

The DRIBS project has been designed to firstly improve our scientific understanding of these rip current systems and how they affect beach hazards, and secondly to ensure that this improved knowledge is passed on to the RNLI in a form that can have a significant impact on public safety.

A better understanding of these relationships will mean that the RNLI will be able to provide their lifeguards with tools and additional training to help keep beaches safe when rip current hazards are high. In addition, the project findings will support public rip awareness programs to help the public be safe at the beach.

This website will provide more information about the DRIBS project as well as information on upcoming events, related news, featured articles and access to up-to-date project findings for both public and lifeguard consumption.