IslandVibesIOP.com 27 There’s no question that one of the most iconic and intriguing spots on the island is Breach Inlet. At low tide, the beach there is expansive, exposing sandbars where dogs romp and bottlenose dolphins perform their delightful feat of strand feeding. But when the tide comes in, the sandbars disappear and imaginations run wild with thoughts of more threatening sea life arriving with the tide. Breach Inlet is a paradox of nature – and anything but tranquil. Even at low tide, what’s hidden below the murky surface of the water are swift currents that pose a real danger to swimmers. But many folks who visit the area aren’t there to swim. They’re just roaming the sandbars searching for shells and are often caught off guard when left stranded as the tide turns. At that point, they risk either swimming to shore through those treacherous currents or remaining on the sandbar, watching the water slowly creep up over them – and hoping that help arrives before it’s too late. Today’s beachgoers are urged to heed the warnings on the signs posted on the beach to avoid sandbars. Swimmers are cautioned that they can receive a $1,000 fine. That is, if they make it out of the water. In previous times when the island was less populated, there were no signs warning of the deadly currents. In the 1940s, two young soldiers from Fort Moultrie unwittingly ventured into the water and drowned. The body of one was never recovered. The geography of the Isle of Palms is constantly changing. Its southern shore was once where 9th Avenue is today, but as sand migrates with the tides, flowing from north to south, it has accreted or accumulated at the south end. So, Breach Inlet has become narrower over time. In 1776, the inlet was over a mile wide and dotted with wide sandbars when nearly 3,000 British soldiers attempted to ford it on foot, only to discover the steep drop-off near Sullivan’s Island and churning water currents invisible from the surface. British officer Sir Henry Clinton wrote afterward, “To our unspeakable mortification, a channel which was reported to have been only 18 inches deep at low water was now found to be 7 feet.” Breach Inlet offers a wonderful opportunity for photo ops and to marvel at the power and magic of nature. The best way to experience it safely is from the shore. HISTORY Then vs Now Once upon a time Breach Inlet was a mile wide By Mary Coy But competitive boxing has seen a resurgence in recent years, especially with the rise of MMA (mixed martial arts). It has also become a popular form of workout for non-competitors. Boxing utilizes the muscles of the entire body, burning calories, increasing flexibility and stamina and even improving cardiovascular health. Not to mention its stress-relieving potential. Who hasn’t dreamed of hitting a punching bag at the end of a bad day? Today, boxing is popular with women as well as men and can be adapted as part of a fitness routine for people in nearly every age group. Dempsey could surely attest to that. At the age of 72, he was able to fight off an attack by two young men who attempted to mug him. He “laid them both out cold on the sidewalk.” As if to prove the point, he lived another 15 years. From Page 26. A map from 1776 shows a much wider Breach Inlet. Courtesy of the Library of Congress Signs at Breach Inlet today warn beachgoers of the deadly currents
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