Another aspect of water safety. Unknown to most people there is a condition that exists on many islands, especially in Hawaii, called Shore Break. This hazard is created by the configuration of the ocean bottom leading up to the beach. When conditions are right, such as wind direction and wave speed etc. waves can break very close to the shore and in a vertical (straight up and straight down) direction. Anyone caught in that type of wave risks the possibility of serious injury. The beach where I was hurt is called Cinnamon Bay in the US Virgin Islands and two years after I was hurt another individual broke his back and is a paraplegic. This condition exists on many of the island beaches in Hawaii and a law in Hawaii requires warning signage be posted on all beaches where Shore Break exists. One of the dangerous things about Shore Break is that it is undetectable by the untrained eye. There are several beaches in the Virgin Islands where no signage warnings exist. If you are going into the water make sure you research your beach before you go. I would like to show a picture of Hawaii’s Shore Break warning.