Drowning accidents due to a reef current and safety of marine activity in a coral reef

• Main Authors: Nishi, Ryuichiro, De Leon, Mario P., Murai, Mitsuryo, Takaesu, Tsuyoshi, Koga, Yukio
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2007
• Subjects: Rip currents—Japan; Drowning—Japan; Waves; Coral reefs and islands—Japan; Civil and Environmental Engineering
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/6201
• Institution: De La Salle University

A number of tourists would frequently visit coastal areas characterized by coral reef and carbonate beach in tropical and subtropical islands such as in Okinawa, Kagoshima and even in Tokyo, Japan. In Okinawa Prefecture for instance, nearly 6 million people visited as of last year and is projected to increase annually where 60% of them probably enjoy marine activities. However, about one hundred people have been involved in drowning accidents in Okinawa Prefecture per year due to lack of knowledge on nearshore current and topography, and swimming capability. Therefore, it is necessary to complete a set of data on drowning accidents in order to analyze the causes of such incidents, and to conduct a field study on the characteristics of current and topography in a coral reef area. In addition, guidelines for safe utilization of carbonate beach and coral reef, i.e. for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and wind surfing, should be proposed for public information and education in order to ensure safety of beach users. So far, it has been established that many drowning accidents are probably caused by a reef current (seaward current in a coral reef) which happens during ebb tide.