It may be mid-winter in New Zealand but Tuesday is World Drowning Prevention Day across the globe.
Our own drowning statistics are up there with the worst in the world with beach drownings on the rise.
Rips don't usually come with handrails, but the artificial current in a special pool has a realistic flow.
"It just shows how hard it is to swim against a rip," said Kane Cocker, a PhD candidate in the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Otago.
The 'flume' at Otago University recreates the pull of a rip - the greatest hazard at our surf beaches.
"The natural tendency is to try to get back to shore where you're safe. But again I think that's the common problem that we see in drownings that are related to rips - people panic, they try to fight, they think that they're so close to the shore that they can make it, but it's a very, very difficult situation to try to fight against," said Otago University Professor Chris Button, who researches water safety and survival skills.
Today is World Drowning Prevention Day to raise awareness around potentially deadly situations.
"The best advice that we've got at the moment is to relax, save your energy. Ride the rip until you get out the back and you can swim to the side and swim in - and raise your hand if you're on a patrolled beach so that people know you need help," Cocker said.
"And eventually, not many people know this, but the rip actually takes a circle and brings you back closer to the shore anyway," added Prof Button.
New Zealand's drowning statistics are among the worst in the world.
"New Zealand has many rivers, many lakes and a long coastline," Prof Button said.
"The conditions are dangerous and difficult. Cold water, strong currents, changeable weather conditions."
Part of the prevention strategy is education and current methods are being reexamined.
"Typically children are taught water safety in a swimming pool where they learn to swim - but we believe the correct approach is to also teach them in open water situations," Prof Button said.
The message is that anyone can drown - but no one should.
