Man Drowns off West Cliff

A wave flushes through the "toilet bowl."

Dang Haus, 24, has presumably drowned near Steamer Lane, a popular surf spot on the Westside of Santa Cruz. According to witnesses, Haus jumped into the water at the "toilet bowl" above Its Beach near the lighthouse on Saturday afternoon. Steamer Lane is just on the other side of the point.

He was last seen yelling for help and his body has not been found after an extensive search by the California Coast Guard and other first responders. The fact that his body disappeared so quickly speaks to the dangerous surf conditions at the time.

News reports claim Haus was from Utah. This seems to be a case of someone who has very little if any experience with the ocean, assuming that the calm-appearing water is safe. This is far from the truth. Swells arriving during summer months are typically coming from the Southern Hemisphere which means there are periods of up to 20 minutes during which the ocean appears placid and safe. When a set of waves arrives, it can be unexpected and the waves can be powerful.

The toilet bowl is named for the swirl of water that forms from crashing waves hitting the curvature of rocks that form a bowl-like inlet to the right of the lighthouse. Anyone caught there when a set of waves comes through is in extreme danger.

Many people drown along this coastline of high cliffs and small coves. Not only should visitors understand surf conditions, they should also be aware of the changing tides. A rocky point that appears safe from the surf can become a dangerous place when the tide rises and a wave breaks with a shower of sea water.

Anyone who is not familiar with the California coastline should always heed warning signs, and seek information from those who are familiar. It really is a life or death matter. This recent drowning is not an isolated incident. Unfortunately, it happens all too often.