Surviving the surf zone: Towards more integrated rip current geographies

•We provide evidence for the integration of physical and human geography in rip current science.•We demonstrate the efficacy of the inclusion of social scientific research approaches to a human hazard.•This article contributes to the call for more integrated human and physical geographies.

Rip currents are a major cause of drowning on surf beaches worldwide. This article highlights the efficacy of integrating physical and human geographical research approaches with the aim of improving our understanding of the problem presented by rip currents, to people. Coastal geomorphologists working in the field of rip current science have identified the need to bring social science research approaches to the rip current hazard. Geography is a discipline well placed for the task of collaboration between the sciences and social sciences. Although the discipline of geography generally operates along a divide between physical and human sciences more integrative approaches to research problems have begun to gain traction. This article provides an overview of the evolution of rip current science through engagement with physical, and more recently, social sciences. It also demonstrates the emergence of an iterative research process within our research collaboration. This provided unforetold opportunities of cooperation and integration that were revealed as part of the evolution of a highly specialised research endeavour.