Given the number of dangers lurking on most beaches, it’s a wonder anyone ventures to these nether regions at all. However, beach travel has been flourishing across America, with the global beach tourism sector growing over the past few years, according to The Business Research Company.
Even with this many people flocking to the beach, there are many reasons to fear this paradise, as beachgoers need to pay utmost respect to the ocean and its surroundings. The edges of our continents provide some of the greatest natural — and human — threats on Earth.
Dangers in Paradise
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) lists among the most common beach risks the following:
- Rip Currents: tidal patterns under the surf can pull swimmers out to sea, resulting in drownings.
- Heat and Sunburn: Heat exhaustion and heatstroke lead to more deaths than any other phenomenon.
- Lightning: the sound of thunder on the beach should be a cue for anyone to find cover. Sadly, an average of 33 people in the United States die each year via lightning. A man lost his life on a New Jersey beach in 2024 when warning others of impending lightning.
- Wildlife: Certain beaches across the world are shark and jellyfish hotspots, which are responsible for fatalities.
- Water Quality: factors such as red tide or sewage pollution can affect ocean quality to the point where it threatens our health.
The NOAA guide claims heatstroke is the biggest weather-related killer in the United States, causing more fatalities than lightning, tornados, floods, and hurricanes combined. Further, a recent study on the long-term effects of heatstroke came from the University of Florida.
The review found that while many heatstroke sufferers return to full health, “single exposure to heatstroke can lead to lasting, multi-organ damage and obesity in mice for months afterward.” Such a duration would mean years for humans.
Therefore, next time you are planning a beach day in the middle of July, your main focus should be on mitigating sun exposure and dehydration. Major heatstroke symptoms to watch for include a body temperature higher than 104F, vomiting, and nausea. The Cleveland Clinic recommends focusing on cooling the victim down by any means possible.
Seculuded Risk
While it would be impossible to identify which beaches have the highest heatstroke risk, we can use common sense. Wild, remote beaches require visitors to be better prepared for the risks than those closer to urban areas.
Sailing platform Sunsail listed the top 25 most secluded beaches in the world, with some surprising top five entries. Researchers for the platform compiled the list using criteria such as accessibility, low online search traffic, and strength of cell phone signal. The following beaches made it to the top:
- Kallanggman Island Beach, Philippines
- Nanjizal Cove, Cornwall, U.K.
- Kaupoa Beach, Molokai Island, Hawaii
- Green Island Beach, Antigua and Barbuda
- Pwlldu Bay Beach, Wales, U.K.
Lifeguards Not on Duty
While not specifically driven by weather per se, drowning deaths head the list of biggest threats to all beach lovers. The World Health Organization (WHO) claims there are in excess of 300,000 drowning deaths per year globally. Moreover, certain beaches present a higher drowning threat than others.
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated in a recent review that 40 million American adults report not knowing how to swim. Understanding how oceans and tides work is far from many people’s minds when they visit the beach, but this shouldn’t be the case.
There is no shortage of stories recounting tourists and their ignorance of rip-tide dangers, including a 2024 accident in Puerto Rico. The tragedy occurred at Condado Beach, where strong tides swept a 22-year-old Indiana woman out to sea. Tragically, friends and onlookers were helpless as the young lady got into trouble.
Jill Robbins at adventure platform The Travel lists several famous beaches on her “Deadliest Rip Currents in the World” feature, including:
- New Smyrna Beach, Florida: a beach with famously strong currents, also regarded as the shark bite capital of the world.
- Kehena Beach, Hawaii: the beach’s black sands make for great holiday photos, but a lack of protective reefs makes the outflowing currents treacherous.
- Nihiwatu Beach, Indonesia: like other rip-heavy coastal zones, this beach on Indonesia’s Sumba Island faces out to the unprotected Indian Ocean. What’s more, its remote proximity makes rescue near-impossible.
- Tamarama Beach, Australia: this spot in New South Wales has claimed many lives, according to Robins. Its steep coastal drop-off can put even experienced swimmers in peril.
- Second Beach, South Africa: most ocean enthusiasts know South Africa’s formidable shark activity. Nonetheless, Second Beach in Port St. John’s, South Africa, has a renowned rip-tide problem to add.
While the dangers on any beach are always present, there are many steps sensible visitors can take to stay safe. There are many checks every swimmer can take before hitting the beach, according to the Red Cross.
This upcoming summer, it might pay to leave a few minutes to carry out a series of safety measures if you are planning a beach vacation. Steps such as stocking up on electrolytes, sunhats, and sunblock go a long way. Of course, acts like checking the weather reports, tidal updates, and local safety amenities may do more than save the day — they might just save a life, too.
