You probably use Google to get answers to questions like “How warm does it get” while choosing a beach destination for your upcoming getaway. “Can one swim in this water?” “Do kids find it enjoyable?” Alternatively, “How many people have died there?” is probably something you are not.
Certain beaches are more hazardous than others because they have more sharks, some of the biggest waves, or a reputation for having rip currents. So perhaps you should think about a beach’s safety factor before visiting, if only to prevent being that person who arrives at their ultimate goal only to discover that it’s one of the deadliest beaches in the nation.
Oak Island, North Carolina
Despite being a popular destination for shark interactions, Oak Island is known for its serene environment. This coastline has developed a reputation as one of the most dangerous beaches in the US for shark encounters following a string of shocking shark attacks that included many occurrences that happened quickly after one another. The rise in shark activity around Oak Island has caused beachgoers to become more cautious when enjoying the waves.
Even with its serene exterior, Oak Island’s waters remind visitors of marine life’s erratic behaviour. Therefore, visitors are advised to use caution and familiarize themselves with shark safety precautions before visiting.
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Florida’s New Smyrna Beach is located south of Daytona Beach on the Sunshine State’s east coast. It boasts 17 miles of white sand beaches, azure oceans, and the highest shark attack rate in the World. According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), there have been 337 documented shark attacks in Volusia County between 1882 and 2020.
Though it’s important to remember that New Smyrna Beach is a popular surfing destination in Florida, it’s also possible that other factors, such as the high quantity, have contributed to the situation.
Hanakapiai Beach, Hawaii
Situated on the lovely Hawaiian island of Kauai, Hanakapiai Beach is renowned for its spectacular beauty and equally hazardous conditions. This beach is challenging because of its strong rip currents and erratic shore breaks.
Over the years, several drownings have resulted from the confluence of these forces. In reality, the local authorities have issued warnings not to swim in the region. When swimming at Hanakapiai Beach, visitors frequently find themselves swiftly swept out to sea by powerful currents.
Daytona Beach, Florida
A favourite spot for beachgoers and racing enthusiasts, Daytona Beach is recognized for its distinctive hard-packed sand, which permits cars to travel down the coast. Additionally, the unusual beach configuration is dangerous, especially for pedestrians.
Crossing the vehicle lanes should only be done carefully by those authorized as pedestrians. Swimming is advised to avoid dangerous currents by paying attention to lifeguard directions and warning flags.
Panama City Beach, Florida
Florida’s Panama City Beach has emerged as America’s worst beach following the deaths of international tourists this past weekend in the Gulf of Mexico. The three people’s cause of death or the nature of their medical issues while submerged in the water remain unknown. Police have nonetheless documented three separate “fatal water incidents” at Panama City Beach.
Jacksonville Beach, Florida
Jacksonville Beach is a well-liked beach resort with much to do and see. It attracts visitors because of its active surf community and welcoming vibe, but some risks should not be ignored.
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Strong rip currents at the beach are well-known, and they have sadly contributed to a worrying number of rescues and fatalities. The region has also had many storms, threatening immediate safety, eroding the beach, and changing the undersea environment, all of which may have increased the risk of rip currents.
Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington
Like a tornado in a trampoline store, Cape Disappointment is utterly serene. Even the most experienced swimmers may find the grade-A sneaky undercurrents here difficult to navigate. It’s a bikini-clad dilemma that seems calm on the outside but acts viciously within.
Appropriately named, this beach may be difficult to navigate because of its powerful currents, choppy waves, and hazardous swimming and boating conditions. According to Trail Chick, the bar has been known as the “graveyard of the Pacific” as it brought down over 2,000 large ships since its founding in 1792. Owing to the severe weather, the main search and rescue operation on the Northwest Coast is managed by the Coast Guard Station at Cape Disappointment.
Ormond Beach, Florida
Ormond Beach has seen four shark attacks and eight surf-zone deaths in the last 12 years. As with other Florida entries on this list, however, its hazard score—7.48, which puts it in the top three most dangerous shorelines in America—is mostly boosted by the 120 storms that have hit the state.
Hurricane Charley, a Category 4 storm that struck in August 2004 and killed eight people, left the region with $13 billion in damages (about $20 billion or £16 billion now), making it one of the deadliest catastrophes to affect the destination.
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Cocoa Beach, Florida
Cocoa Beach comes in second and has a hazard score of 7.57 out of 10, with seven shark attack incidents and seven surf zone disasters since 2010. An 18-year-old surfer was the target of a shark attack on February 11, 2022, but he escaped with just minor injuries to his foot. Between 1851 and 2020, 120 storms of various intensities made landfall in Florida, with Cocoa Beach experiencing some of the worst effects.
Gulf Shores – Alabama
Although there is much to do in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the area is most known for its breathtaking miles-long white sand beaches. However, it’s also well-known for its seas and climate hazards.
Robust rip currents are a locality feature that has caused several drowning deaths. Furthermore, during severe weather, Gulf Shores is a favoured location for lightning strikes, raising the risk for beachgoers. Furthermore, because of its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, the beach is susceptible to hurricanes; over the years, a number of strong storms have made landfall here.
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
Situated on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras is well known for its strong and erratic waves. This beach is situated where the Gulf Stream’s warm waters merge with the Labrador Current’s cold waters, producing choppy waves that are ideal for surfers but dangerous for swimmers.
The region is well-known for its ephemeral sandbars, which can drag swimmers far from the coast. Because of the frequent shipwrecks off its shore, Cape Hatteras has earned the nickname “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to these perils.
Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts
The breathtaking Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts may seem perfect on the outside, but some risks lurk under its serene exterior. Swimmers and boaters may be caught off guard by the powerful currents and quickly shifting weather.
Due to the growth in the population of these apex predators, shark sightings and encounters have increased in recent years. Swimmers and surfers must follow safety precautions and be aware of local shark alert systems.
South Padre Island, Texas
Known for its stunning beaches and exciting nightlife, South Padre Island is another well-liked Texas Gulf Coast destination—but it’s also risky. The rough waves and tumultuous seas can make swimming in the ocean difficult during a storm or heavy winds.
Visitors must remain inside approved swimming zones and heed warning signs, even when lifeguards are positioned in specific places. Furthermore, it is important to use caution and situational awareness because the island’s spring break celebrations may result in crowded beaches.
Malibu Beach – Malibu, Calif.
In addition to receiving some of the lowest ratings for air and water pollution, the celebrity-studded beach in southern California has recorded at least five shark attacks. Out of 100, the beach scores 61.30 for water pollution.
Miami Beach, Miami
Miami Beach is one of the most well-known beaches in the nation, yet many people are unaware of its true level of danger, and it has nothing to do with the area’s high crime rate.
With an average July high temperature of 90 degrees, Miami Beach is the warmest beach in the United States. Although many beachgoers prefer warmer weather, Miami Beach may experience dangerously high temperatures.
Capistrano Beach, California
Although contaminated waters and shark attacks spring to mind when you think of beach hazards, there are other factors to take into account when determining a beach’s level of safety. Air pollution threatens the safety of Capistrano Beach, which shares the highest levels of air pollution with three other neighbouring beaches in the Los Angeles region.
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