Vortices generated by oscillatory flow over symmetrical sand ripples have been investigated in order to ascertain the amount of wave energy loss that can be attributed to the formation and movement of vortices. The experimental phase of the investigation centered around the flow visualization of the vortices over the ripples. These laboratory data were used to obtain values for three parameters (vortex size, circulation, and radius of the vortex core) needed to evaluate the amount of energy bound up in the vortex, the energy relationship being derived from a trapped vortex model. Comparison of the vortex kinetic energy loss attributed to bottom effects indicates that the vortices possess about 7% of the measured wave energy loss, the majority of the remaining energy loss being attributed to bottom shear.