Continent |
North America |
Country |
Florida (USA) |
Next Big City |
Fort Walton Beach |
Next Town |
Destin |
|
Type: |
Ocean |
Rider Ability: |
Beginner, Intermediate, Expert |
Features: |
Toilet, Parking |
Water
Type: |
Small wave, Medium wave |
Hazards: |
Currents |
Quality: |
Clean |
Best Tide: |
Tide independent |
10-15m of shallow water at the shore, then the water is deep. Wind swells are surfable and will break at about 2m height at the outer sand bars 300-400m offshore. Long closeout sections and chop. Can be difficult to reach the outside is the winds are too onshore. Beware of strong rip tide/currents that can carry your board away. Wear a flotation vest at least.
Beach
Type: |
Sand |
Size: |
Big |
Hazards: |
None |
Beach Users: |
No information |
4-5km of white sand beach running east to west. 2-3km away from the hotels and shops, so bring at least water. Toilets are directly across HWY 98 at the Leeside National Park on the bay side. Not a short walk, need to drive, and HWY 98 is busy with 100kph traffic.
Weather
Spring:
|
Shorts |
Summer:
|
Shorts |
Fall:
|
Shorts |
Winter:
|
Shorts, Shorty, Normal |
November to March 4-10°C and up to 18°C when warmer winds from the South blow in. April to September very hot, up to 37-38°C. Will cool down with North winds.
Wind
Best Months: |
No information |
Wind Type: |
Thermal, Frontal |
Best Direction: |
SE, SW |
Main Direction: |
No information |
Ideal for SW or SE winds. E sideshore, S onshore, W sideshore, N offshore. Variable, unpredictable, usually 5-10kts, then occasionally 15-20kts southerly. Great fun for riding the outside on a SE or SW.
How to get there
Transport |
Car |
Access
|
Medium walk |
From Okaloosa airport, travel south to HWY 98, then turn towards Destin. Go over Brooks bridge, past the Gulfarium, then look for sandy road access to the gulfside beaches. If it's any good, you'll easily see kites from the road.
Extra information
Surfers, boogie boarders, and kitesurfers are exempt from the "Double Red Flag" restrictions. On double red flag days, be prepared to rescue stupid tourists from the water.
Nightlife