[AmirS2]

> normal to the rip tide

as an engineer, I assumed this ('normal') meant across/perpendicular/90 degrees to the rip tide, not against it ...

I believe 90 degrees to a rip tide is the correct thing to do ...

[papercrane]

Yes, that's what they meant. Rip tides aren't usually that wide. The best thing to do if you get caught in one is to remain calm and swim perpendicular to the current.