Why were the bodies of the men never found, since the prevailing currents should have washed them towards the mainland?

To the south of the islands the waters were equally rich in nutrients but far less iron was available to the plankton because of the prevailing currents.

The term also denotes those media generally reflective of the prevailing currents of thought, influence, or activity.

In some locations, perhaps because of prevailing currents, it may be oval, elongate or irregular in cross section.

The wave moves eastward with the prevailing currents.