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Above: A crowd gathers on the Tanjung Balau beach in Desaru where the body of a drowned Malaysian was found.

Desaru, located at the south-eastern tip of Johor, is well known for its beautiful picture-perfect seascapes.

But its waters and those of surrounding areas can be treacherous, especially during the monsoon season from November to March.

Sub-Lieutenant Safrilaza Mustapa, of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, told The New Paper that between last November and this month, the waters near Desaru have claimed eight lives.

He said that the wind and the underwater currents in the area are very strong at this time of year because of the monsoon season.

He advised holidaymakers to keep a lookout for red flags on the beach before taking a dip in the sea. The flags have been put up by the management of the resorts in the area.

"The open water leads straight to the South China Sea. Stay away from the water when you see the red flags as the strong currents can sweep you away," he warned.

A website on Desaru's attractions says the sea is often choppy during the monsoon season. As a result, activities such as parasailing have to be stopped for safety reasons.

Before Monday's accident, Mr Hasief Suhaimi, 25, and his younger brother, Mr Hazim Suhaimi, 20, drowned on Jan 1 after they were swept away by strong currents while swimming off Desaru.

>>Next: Factors

Factors

Professor Chou Loke Ming, of the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, said that several factors can contribute to the strong underwater currents.

One of them is the north-east monsoon at the fully exposed South China Sea.

Professor Chou, who is a principal investigator at the university's marine biology laboratory, added that geological features such as the gradient of beaches can also contribute to the strength of the underwater currents in the area.

He said: "Strong currents can also form when there is a narrowing of channels. As a result, water is forced through at a faster rate."

Swimmers must also look out for rip tides, which Professor Chou said could happen at any time.

Also known as rip currents, they are fast-flowing currents and can carry a person out to sea, says Singapore's National Water Safety Council.

A lifeguard who declined to be named said that rip tides can overpower even strong swimmers.

He said: "Do not try to fight the current when you are caught in a rip tide as the current will be very strong.

"You will only be wasting energy and can drown when you get too tired to swim any more.

"Instead, tread water and wait until you are out of the current before swimming towards the shore.

"The most important thing is to never swim alone. Always ensure that there are others around."

This article was first published in The New Paper.

Look out for red flags at Desaru

By Shaffiq Alkhatib, The New Paper | Sat, Jan 28 2012

Desaru is well known for its beautiful picture-perfect seascapes, but its waters and those of surrounding areas can be treacherous.

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