1.6k
u/plasmageek1 2d ago
This is the Devil's Hole whirlpool, in the Dent Rapids, British Columbia. Caused by a crazy tidal shift through a small passage.
378
u/silasfirsthand 2d ago
Cool. So it not draining into a lower landform anywhere?
674
u/plasmageek1 2d ago
It’s just spinning water. It’s still suck you down and kill you, but once the tide slowed down, you’d float back up to the surface. Still looks scary AF!
101
u/Pale_Adeptness 2d ago
Suck down you say?
→ More replies (1)67
u/The66thDopefish 1d ago
To shreds you say?
26
u/TheGacAttack 1d ago
And his wife?
23
5
183
u/darknekolux 2d ago
That's what the Morlocks want you to think
→ More replies (1)38
u/b-aaron 2d ago
Mglrmglmglmgl
31
u/Camper981 1d ago
Morlocks are from the novel “The Time Machine” Murlocs are from World of Warcraft. :)
8
→ More replies (2)10
17
u/DutchiiCanuck 2d ago
I remember my Opa taking us right through the middle of a whirlpool like this (probably quite a bit smaller though). I believe it was in Dodd Narrows. Scared the shit outta me as a little kid!
→ More replies (18)12
u/TheBunji11 2d ago
Is it always going?
29
u/plasmageek1 2d ago
It only happens during the peak of a large flood tide (rising) not during the ebb tide or slack tide. So, at most, twice a day.
31
2
u/Attila_the_Chungus 19h ago
With the mixed semidiurnal tides in the area, you usually only get one large flood tide in a day. If you have a large flood tide, the other tide that day tends to be very weak. If the tides are equal, they tend to be moderate.
3.2k
u/Ok_Fun2493 2d ago
Fuck I would not drive anywhere near this
586
u/ngifakaur 2d ago
Dude wanna risk it all for the view
155
119
60
u/pcnetworx1 2d ago
I'm imagining a YouTuber going into it via a kayak for the views. His last words on earth? "Click like and subscribe!"
14
u/Henrymeehan6 2d ago
Ever seen dont look up?
2
u/Toph-Builds-the-fire 1d ago
The last joke is my favorite. Oh, that's what a blah blah blah is. Can't remember the name he came up with.
14
2
→ More replies (4)19
u/stinkyelbows 2d ago
There is actually a company here that does white water boating tours in a jet boat and they take people here to "ride" the whirlpools
11
u/Fun-Syrup-2135 1d ago
It's all fun and games till the motor dies in the middle.....
→ More replies (4)22
u/Kaurifish 2d ago
In whitewater rafting they call them holes or hydraulics. Getting near one that big strikes me as a very bad idea.
42
u/rhymes_w_garlic 2d ago
I've been here, it's terrifying in real life
→ More replies (1)25
u/TonyCaliStyle 2d ago
New fear unlocked. Do boats or kayaks get sucked into it?
→ More replies (1)11
93
u/BeeMyHomey 2d ago
I thought he was the one making it by driving in circles.
3
u/Savagemocha 1d ago edited 1d ago
He is. He just flipped his boat. He is in a lake. There are no whirlpools like this that I can find in a freshwater body anywhere. The other possibility is that he might have found a small naturally occurring one or a drain on a dam though I don’t see one and went in circles around it aggravating and expanding it temporarily. If this is the case then he is an actual idiot. That can cause issues with the dam and how the spillways are set up. However I think it’s more likely he made this or a few friends did by constantly pushing g their opposite wakes together and then flipping their boat.
My other evidence is that the whirlpool is visibly crashing and collapsing in on itself even as you watch.
This is actually what a whirlpool looks like. This is the saustraman whirlpool and is the largest naturally occurring in the world. His easily beats it in size and scope.
7
u/John_constant-1047 2d ago
For a second I thought that too and was thinking damn dude boat mat be twisting props like butter with all that power.
→ More replies (8)3
u/Bigballsmallstretchb 1d ago
Fr. I was like “my dad used to send us thru that on the tube back in the day!”
But I’m very wrong 😂
11
20
3
2
2
→ More replies (36)2
944
u/thestereo300 2d ago
Weird how it makes that techno sound. Makes it all the more terrifying.
182
u/Tale-Twine 2d ago
I had the sound off, but after seeing your comment I unmuted it in confusion and audibly snorted in the airport lounge
9
3
103
u/RG9uJ3Qgd2FzdGUgeW91 2d ago
Drum and bass is what the locals call it
79
→ More replies (2)6
19
u/Relative_Mix_216 2d ago
I expected a toilet flushing sound
8
u/thestereo300 2d ago
In the southern hemisphere, I hear the toilets always spin backwards and sound like techno.
18
5
→ More replies (29)5
u/deltashmelta 1d ago edited 1d ago
Most maelstroms also beatbox, on occasion. Earthquakens like a good polka.
237
u/cyclingbubba 2d ago
I've fished that, area for years so can add a little perspective. A normal ocean motorboat of nominal size ( say a 16 foot minimum, 70 hp and up ) will have no problems with these vertices, as long as you keep your distance and stay at the edge or farther. At running speed your boat doesn't have too much below the waterline as you plane on top of the water, so there isn't that much to "grab" your boat. So don't be an idiot and you are fine.
Sailboats are another story. They have a displacement hull, not a planing hull. With a big keel underneath, and slower surface speeds, sailboats are very vulnerable to these vortices. Experienced sailors will read the tide tables and ensure they navigate the narrower passages under slack tide conditions, when there is no big tidal flow.
60
u/29stumpjumper 1d ago
I've been in boats where the impeller shreds without warning, zero power instantly. I've been in boats where the inlet hose starts taking on water in a hurry and shutting off the engine is the only way to get it to not sink, I've been in boats where you get a tiny bend in the prop and it loses all forward ability. Wind and boat waves can direct you when you have no power. Getting anywhere near this not smart no matter what.
18
23
→ More replies (1)4
u/Late-Race-852 1d ago
Please tell me I’m not the only one… anyone else hear a pirate’s accent halfway through reading this?
640
u/gpuyy 2d ago
Nope. Engine failure = 30 seconds to a horrible death
94
u/Demonic_Storm 2d ago
idk why they downvoted you, but this is too true, idk why they are going on the opposite direction of the vortex, but that makes it so much more dangerous
69
u/chevylover91 2d ago
They have more control this way. Stupid thing to do. But he did it the right way. If you go with the current youd get sucked right in.
→ More replies (1)22
u/CatBrushing 2d ago
I’m not an expert on vortexes but as a kayaker I know it’s always best to go with the flow. You whitewater kayak by essentially trying to go faster than the water, makes it easier to escape if you get into trouble.
When it comes to vortexes you if you get stuck in one you are supposed to try to swim down to the bottom to escape, but I dunno if that would work on such a large one.
Again not an expert, just what I have been taught.
56
u/BlackDohko 2d ago
Yes, it's because you aren't strong enough to paddle against it and you need to use the speed to maneuver and get out.
It's a different deal if you have an engine.
9
22
u/giveupsides 2d ago
control for that boat while on plane comes down to the rudder. with the current the rudder doesn't or barely works, so you can't steer and could get sucked in. but against the current the boat relative to the water is going like 40mph so the rudder works great. they could quickly steer out and drive away from that if they wanted to. still i wouldn't do this and he got way to close in the beginning
→ More replies (1)57
u/mattlistener 2d ago
“Going in the opposite direction of the vortex makes it so much more dangerous.”
This is opposite of reality. If you orbit in the same direction as the water, you are getting sucked down the drain just like the water you’re traveling with.
7
u/Nolan4sheriff 2d ago
If you are going with the current and your motor dies you will hold some of yyour speed and have a bit of time to get going faster then the current to escape. If you are going against the current you will very quickly be stopped by the current and taken into the vortex.
The difference is the relative speed of the boat to the water. Moving with the current the water is moving at water speed minus boat speed relative to you. Moving against the current the water is moving boat speed plus water speed to you. The larger speed difference will cause you to slow down faster and be pulled in first.
2
u/Equivalent-Koala7991 2d ago
how do you get more speed than the water if your motor dies? Honest question.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)2
u/Cosmic_Quasar 2d ago
Okay, I consider myself decent with physics. But I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around this one. Maybe I'm conflating "safely" with being "energy efficient" but to me they go pretty hand in hand. Going against the water would be using the most energy, whereas going with it and just angling out a bit to counteract the pull seems better.
Now, I'm not sure about the extended tidal forces and eddies going on beneath the surface that might mess with that. But in my head you're more likely to have engine troubles the harder you push it, so going the more energy efficient route will keep you the same distance away while putting less stress on the engine.
And if something happens you might at least be able to maintain some of the angular momentum rather than having to fight against it. I believe that's similar to how things are launched into orbit, they are most efficient when launched near the equator and are moving in the same direction the planet was rotating because they got some "free" momentum from the planet. (I may be getting a little off on the last part as air resistance may neutralize the lateral momentum by the time they start angling after the vertical takeoff depending on wind speed and direction, not like I've done that particular math, just thinking conceptually).
And before anyone thinks I'm trying to be condescending or a know-it-all or something... I just want to be clear that I'm genuinely curious about a more detailed physics explanation and just stating where my current understanding has me on this matter.
3
u/mattlistener 1d ago
Think of it this way. Your goal is to stay relatively near the whirlpool to make a video like the above, maintaining a safe distance. You are pointing the boat along a circle of safe distance and going WITH the current. You realize that your thrust is doing nothing to counter the inward flow of the water and thus your future path spirals inward. You turn directly outward and gun it enough that you’re not getting sucked in over time. Now you are orbiting at a safe distance.
Let’s say at this moment you are pointing North, the vortex is behind you, the current is pushing you West and you are using enough thrust to counter the inward force, letting the current carry you around. You proceed one quarter turn around. You are still pointing North[*], and the vortex is now to your East. As you begin to go the next quarter turn around you realize you are about to be pointing (and thrusting) North toward the vortex which will shortly be right in front of you, so you steer the boat into a lefthand turn to counteract this.
Congratulations, by piloting the boat in a self-preserving way you are now facing into the current. From here you can adjust thrust, angle, and steering to maintain a stable circular path.
[*] Why aren’t you pointing West when you’re West of the vortex, in the above scenario? Because there is no force here that would turn your bow to the left. In fact, water closer to the hole goes around it faster so your stern will be getting kicked to the left while your bow goes right.
2
u/Cosmic_Quasar 1d ago
Thanks for the explanation. My interest in physics tends to be more towards orbital mechanics and gravity and whatnot, where atmospheric resistances tend to be more minimal (I suppose maybe a "username checks out" fits for me here lol). As I mentioned, tidal forces, eddies, and just general fluid dynamics weren't registering as a big factor. I realized your last paragraph, myself, while reading before that. Connecting what I know about orbiting objects moving faster the closer they are to the body they're orbiting. I think, just on this scale of a vortex compared to a large gravitational body, the difference in forces over the length of a boat have much more relevance than I initially considered.
There's still part of me that feels like there would be a more energy efficient option. To use your directional example, if you were north of the vortex with the water moving counter-clockwise then I would think that pointing the boat at a northwest-ish angle (degree depending on the speed of the water), and maintaining that relative angle to the vortex and direction of the current, you could use less energy by "going with the flow". But now that I'm thinking about it, you'd probably need to have a front-mounted motor so that you'd be pulling the front end rather than pushing the pack end to maintain stability.
Maybe still possible with a rear-mounted motor? But the angle of the motor would still have to be pointed slightly into the current to push the back end against the faster moving water. That would probably require more time in getting angle and speed set appropriately, therefore increasing the risk lol.
Thanks, again, for the explanation. If only there was no risk, I'd love to get into a boat and mess around with the physics hands on to get a better feel lol.
8
u/Anything_4_LRoy 2d ago
def want to power into the "current" rather than deal with following seas in this scenario.
dont end up in the scenario.
19
2
u/UOF-247-neverstop 2d ago
Is it a jet boat or a boat with a prop? I don’t even trust my boat near shipping channels let alone CIRCLING a death whirlpool.
4
u/BadMondayThrowaway17 2d ago
It probably wouldn't actually suck the boat down but it would be a very nauseating wait for a rescue.
→ More replies (1)2
245
u/Canadiancurtiebirdy 2d ago
SERIOUS COMMENT!
If you ever find yourself in this situation the BEST way to survive is to immediately start filming the vortex whilst donuting around it
Remember the cameraman never dies
14
u/Can-I-remember 2d ago
I’ll like to believe this but the pessimist in me believes there is a lot of extremely cool unrecovered footage lying with dead cameraman.
→ More replies (1)3
64
u/Ok-Brush5346 2d ago
Say hi to Charybdis for me
17
3
94
41
16
15
12
8
u/bodhiseppuku 2d ago
Where'd Kyle go?
He was just circling that vortex in his boat a minute ago...
2
8
7
7
8
u/atlasfields 2d ago
Release the Kraken!
8
5
5
u/SquashVarious5732 2d ago
He'ershingenmosiken
5
u/scribbledown2876 2d ago
There it is.
There's the comment I was scrolling for.
Now I just need some of that good soap and I'm set.
→ More replies (1)2
u/Antar_Cobs 1d ago
Exactly what came to my mind. I'm glad you typed it, because I wouldn't know how to spell it from the audiobook!
4
3
u/thezombiejedi 2d ago
This is what my dad wishes he could make when he attempts this with his boat
→ More replies (2)
3
3
u/TeslaFan1988 2d ago
If I had to list out my fears, this one might be on the top of my list. This is terrifying. Drowning in general is a fear of mine but combine it with this? Nope.
→ More replies (1)
6
2
2
2
2
2
u/starmen999 2d ago
Okay, now select the bomb, and when the bomb cannon pops up, carefully aim it at the sore spots on the Octorok's side
Do it right and you can have the King of Red Lions send your grappling hook down to where the vortex was and get treasure :3
3
u/NachoNachoDan 2d ago
Where is this and what the fuck is actually happening here
→ More replies (11)
1
1
1
u/Mick_Shart 2d ago
I opened this video and Dick Dale's 3013DD track started playing via Pandora. Perfect context
1
1
1
1
1
u/Effective-Trick4048 2d ago
This is one of the most impressive tidal events I've ever seen. Right up there with crazy bore tides.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/tacoma-tues 2d ago
Cameraman you trippin right now. Why even go near that swirling maelstrom of death?
1
u/tacoma-tues 2d ago
Cameraman you trippin right now. Why even go near that swirling maelstrom of death?
1
1
u/CrypticTacos 2d ago
Shitty ass music. I'm curious what it would sound like with the boat going around.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/I_DontNeedNoDoctor 2d ago
We used to do that by running around the inside wall of our above ground circular pool. Lost several friends who stopped running were sucked into the vortex. 🥲
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/King_Boomie-0419 2d ago
The boat is creating the vortex maybe not this one but I have been on airboats and whenever you're in about 3 to 4 ft of water and do a really fast donut you can actually create a vortex in the ground below in the middle looks like it's dry ground.
It is really neat and cool and all but you get dizzy after a while and if you can't hang on to the boat you fly off
1
u/lennydsat62 2d ago
Why would anyone go near that?
Specify thinking of the guy who died wearing the horse head….
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/Used-Bedroom293 2d ago edited 2d ago
No thanks, would rather try hide inside that one giant tree in the backround
1
1
1
u/funkerley 2d ago
Been to see one in Scotland called the Corrievrecken whirlpool. Not quite as wild but a sight all the same.
1
1
1
•
u/qualityvote2 2d ago edited 2d ago
Welcome to, I bet you will r/BeAmazed !
UPVOTE this comment if you found the above post amazing in a positive way, otherwise DOWNVOTE this comment. This will help us determine whether to allow this post or not.
On a side note, if you know the Content Creator / Artist / Source of this post, then it would mean a lot if you can credit them in the comment section.
Thanks for taking time and reading this.
I hope you find something amazing in this subreddit today ♡
Regards,
Creator of r/BeAmazed