As someone that has grown up surrounded by beaches and done surf life saving, I know how the sea works. Lots of people dont. Every summer multiple tourists die here because they don’t respect the sea, if you’re going to the coast, here’s a thing I saw on Facebook.
wow.
This goes for the Great Lakes too.
Yes yes yes to all of the above, especially the Great Lakes bit. I’d add a couple of things (as a Great Lakes surfer):
Currents are worse near piers! Even if everything else is calm, odds are there is a current near the pier, probably a bad one.
If the waves are big, don’t go out on a pier. Yes, I know you want the pretty picture, but every year people die getting swept off of piers. (See above point about currents and piers.)
The most dangerous thing about big bodies of water is the water itself. I cannot stress this enough: the most dangerous thing is the water itself. Currents, waves, all of it. Respect the water, especially if you’re somewhere unfamiliar.
More minor point: salt water is considerably more buoyant than fresh water, and the waves in the Great Lakes are not like the waves in the ocean (closer, choppier, and often no lulls/sets). So if you’re used to the ocean and you come visit our beautiful lakes, please don’t underestimate them just because they’re aren’t oceans. Please.
Dama Cherepaha 