Sharks, jellyfish and rip currents, oh my! How safe is ocean for July 4 in Myrtle Beach area

For many in the Myrtle Beach area, Fourth of July means a day to take in the sun and waves at the beach.

But with elevated rip currents, Portuguese Man o’ Wars washing up on the beach and a shark sighting that cleared the waters, the ocean recently has had beach officials and swimmers on their toes.

With the upcoming holiday weekend, here’s what you can expect on the sand and in the surf.

Surf conditions

Beachgoers may deal with rip currents and large swells on July 4, said Beach Service Ltd. Supervisor Alec Betts in a text to The Sun News.

There is a moderate threat, although it can be difficult to predict rip currents, especially with Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean , said Betts and Stephen Keebler, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Ocean conditions change often, so check again before entering the water.

When waves wash up against the shore, the water, as its leaving the beach, can congregate and create a strong stream going back into the ocean. This is called a rip current , or, a riptide.

One way to tell if you’re in a rip tide is if you are swimming toward the shore and getting tired without making progress. Try swimming sideways to escape the flow. If you can’t escape, float or tread water and wave or yell for help.

Myrtle Beach dealt with high rip currents the week of June 20 , The Sun News reported.

Dangerous sea creatures

In June, man o’ wars made appearances in the Grand Strand, being spotted on the beaches from North Myrtle Beach to Georgetown. North Myrtle Beach found around 20 on the beach during the last week of June, said Monty Reed, North Myrtle Beach beach patrol manager, in an email.

Reed said he hadn’t seen any Sunday or Monday but Facebook posts show man o’ wars are still in the Myrtle Beach area.

The jellyfish-like animal doesn’t appear in the Myrtle Beach area very often but sometimes strong winds blow them in. Man o’ wars have a body similar to a balloon that sits on top of the water and stingers up to 20 feet long. They leave a very painful sting, so keep a distance and do not touch one, even if its dead.

If stung, remove any tentacles with tweezers and rinse the area with hot water or seawater for around 20 minutes, Surfer Today recommends. Over the counter medications and hot compresses also can help with the pain. If things escalate, such as having trouble breathing, chest pains, or any other complications, get to a hospital.

There have also been four stings from stingrays since Memorial Day, Betts said. This is high as Beach Services Ltd. usually sees four to six stings a summer. Betts recommends to shuffle your feet when in the water to scare them away.

A shark was spotted near the shore in Cherry Grove in North Myrtle Beach the last week of June, but that is normal, Reed said. South Carolina usually sees four shark bites a year , but hasn’t had a shark fatality since the 1840s, The Sun News reported.

Bait balls, a tactic used by fish when they are in open water and sense a predator nearby , have been seen near the shore in the Myrtle Beach area. The bait balls appear as black blobs and are a sign that animals, such as sharks, are close.

Safety tips

Before diving into the water, take a look at the lifeguard’s flags. A green flag means there’s low risks, a yellow flag means moderate and red means there is a high surf or strong currents, according to North Myrtle Beach.

A double red flag means to stay out of the water and a purple flag means there’s dangerous marine life nearby.

Garrett Watts, owner of Beach Services Ltd., recommends beachgoers go no further than waist deep into the water and swim near a lifeguard. It’s also smart to check-in with the lifeguard when arriving to get the most up-to-date information on water conditions, Betts said in a text.