Water safety

Before going out the ocean, please review the following water safety information.

The Safety Poster and the Online Water Safety Trainings were created with the help of the OIST members.

Safety Poster

Marine Leisure Hazards_5 factors of Marine leisure accidents (click to enlarge)

Mandatory Online Water Safety Training

Link: https://learn.oist.jp/catalog/view/course/id/702/title/Water%20Safety%20Training　

Contents: This training provides a minimum knowledge of water safety. When engaging in marine recreation, always check local hazard information, weather, and sea conditions on the day of activity to ensure your own safety.

Target Group: This training is mandatory for all OIST employees and students. It is open to the whole OIST community. It is strongly recommended that the course be taken once a year.

Note: Family members can access this training using the account listed below.

•             Login URL : https://learn.oist.jp/start/op/login　

•             Username : externalmembers

•             Password : oist

Basic Safety Measures to Enjoy Marine Leisure

Hazard Information

Okinawa Rip Current map

Map with photos of the locations where rip current has occurred and likely to occur. Select locations indicated in red, orange, or blue for details.

Red: previously reported rip current sites
Orange: where Coast Guard observed rip currents
Blue: potential rip current likely to occur

How to Identify a Rip Current (Rip Tide)

• An area of calm or rippled water in between even-breaking surf
• Discolored water due to sand being stirred off the bottom.
• Darker colored water (deeper because the current dredges the bottom)
• Foam on the surface extending beyond the surf line.
• Debris floating seaward
• Lower, choppier wave heights
• Relax and stay calm. If you get caught in a rip current, float with the current or swim across the current, not against it.
• Raise an arm to signal for help

Accident List

The tragic and recent death of an OIST student whilst spending recreational time in the sea highlights all too clearly the potential hazards of water related activities in Okinawa. If you are spending time at the coast or in the sea whether recreationally or as part of field work activities, please be aware of the hazards. There are particular spots around Okinawa that are known to have strong currents. Sadly, there have been many ocean related accidents reported across Okinawa in the last year. See below

Be aware of the hazards when going to the field. Popular sites close to OIST also have hazards, such as Apogama and Maeda Misaki. Following is the list of  accidents that were reported in Okinawa during 2021 and 2022.

2021

2022

Public Announcement on Water Safety and Awareness