I just moved to Oahu and started to go to this beach. The first 2 times were great as there were many people in the water and I joined them swimming and body surfing. The third time I went I almost lost my life!!!!! There were signs that said "No Swimming", but I saw a few guys go in anyways, so I followed them. I figured I did not drive all this way to stay out of the water, so I followed them. Not more than 5 mintues into the water, I was struggling for my life as I could not reach the bottom to gain my footing and take a break. I was being pounded by huge waves 5-8 feet waves. Fortunately, there was a guy near me that I asked to help me. He asked me if I had a cramp, and I said YES, even though I did not, I just ran out of gas. The ocean sucked my energy dry. He helped me out, and then 3 other people helped me, and also finally a life guard came to help. I crawled out of the ocean barely surviving.
Afterwards, they called the ambulance as a precaution. While I lay in the sand trying to catch my breath, I have never in my life felt so drained, its as if all the life energy sucked out. I could not even walk or ly down. I later threw up.
A girl came up to me to ask if I was ok. She told me she is an olympic polo player who also was saved recently at this beach. After the ambulance came, one of the paramedics said he is a local hawaiian but he never comes here. I finally got it. This place is very dangerous. The lifeguard said I was the 3rd person to be saved that day. For TOURISTS and NEW ONES TO OAHU, Make sure you take the SIGNS seriously. When it says "NO SWIMMING" DO NOT GO IN THE WATER.
Be very careful on this beach. I DO THINK the life guard needs another TOWER at the end towards the end of the parking lot where the rocks are. This is where I was, and I wanted to call out of help to the lifeguard, but they were so far away. For the most dangerous beach in hawaii, why do they only have ONE TOWER? makes no sense as many things here oahu, I have noticed need better planning.
This beach has had ~8-10 deaths from drowning since 1993, including 1 surfer. It has the highest broken back and neck injuries in the nation. I wish I new these facts before I went there.
"Sandy Beach is the No. 1 danger beach," said Michael Figueroa, a 22-year-old bodyboarder who says he has helped many tourists to safety.
Seventy-one people drowned in Hawaii in 2004, 58 of them in the ocean. The toll was the highest here in 15 years, but then was eclipsed by last year's total of 77.
Not only tourists, but half are locals who die.
This beach looks very beautiful on a nice sunny day, but do not be deceived by its beauty, as it will take your life, if you are not careful. read more