Tide Charts + Currents

Rip Currents

Rip currents are formed when water rushes out in a narrow path, like rivers through the surf. Often mistakenly called undertows, these powerful currents pull even experienced swimmers away from shore, but not under the water. Rip currents may form in breaks in near shore sandbars. They are rarely more than 30 feet wide, but they can extend 1,000 feet offshore, reach 100 feet in width and travel up to 3 mph. Some are present a few hours, others are permanent. Rip currents are more prevalent after storms.

Telltale Signs of Rip Currents

  • A difference in water color – either murkier from sediments or darker from greater depth.
    • Polarized sunglasses cut glare and help to spot rip currents.
  • A difference in the wave – foamy, choppier waves in the rip current and smaller, calmer waves in front of the sand bar.
  • Foam or objects moving steadily seaward.
  • An offshore plume of turbid water past the sandbars.

What Should You Do In Case of a Rip Currents

  • If you are caught in a rip current, don’t panic or swim against the current.
  • Swim parallel to shore until you are out of the current. Rip currents are rarely more than 30 feet wide.
  • If you can’t break out of the current, float calmly until it dissipates, usually just beyond the breakers.
  • Then swim diagonally to shore. If you don’t swim well, stay in wading depths and watch for sudden drop-offs.

Tide + Weather Information

Before you head to the beach, check the tide tables and solunar tables for Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. You can get the forecast for high tides, low tides, hours of maximum fish activity, weather conditions and other useful information at tides4fishing.com/.

Please use good judgement and obey the lifeguards and the flag warning system.

CAN’T MISS EXPERIENCES

Little Adventures

Explore bite-sized adventures for the whole family. Use the filters below or browse all of our Little Adventures.

by age

by price

by duration

FEATURED STORY

Healthy Risk-Taking For Teens + Tweens Through Adventure Travel

Healthy Risk-Taking For Teens + Tweens Through Adventure Travel “Be careful! Watch out! Get down!” As a parent, you’ve probably shouted those phrases multiple times to your children as they played and explored the world around them. Protecting our children is our utmost responsibility, and it can be hard to…

Read more

Trip Ideas

While beachgoers can lay out on the sand, shoppers can stroll down the HarborWalk Village and savor plates of Gulf-to-Table seafood. What will you do in Destin-Fort Walton Beach?

Three kids search for marine life with nets on the shores of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Adapting water activities for kids of multiple ages

Adapting water activities for kids of multiple ages This post was written by Sara McCarty, founder of Run Wild My Child, in partnership with Destin-Fort Walton Beach. If you have more than one kid, you know that it’s often hard to find activities that keep multiple kids of…

Read more
Stingray in the ocean

How to tell Manta Rays and Stingrays apart

Out of all the wildlife you may spot in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, one of the most distinctive is a ray gliding through the water like a flat alien spaceship.

Read more
sailboat during sunset

Sailing in Destin-Fort Walton Beach

Have you gone sailing yet?  You can’t beat the beautiful water on the Gulf of Mexico.  Here are a few options for a sailing experience you won’t forget.

Read more

April 1, 2023

Kitty Hawk Kites Fly into Spring

What do a 100- foot octopus, 80- foot panda, and a 50- foot gator have…

DISCOVER EVENTS

ENEWSLETTER SIGN-UP

Get a little sand in your inbox.

Complete the form here to receive emails highlighting special events and opportunities in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Your information will not be sold or distributed. Privacy policy.