Why is Destin water so clear?

The Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles downstream from New Orleans, which is about 250 miles from Destin. Being so far from the river's entrance to the Gulf has helped our water stay crystal clear.

Does Destin Florida have clear water?

The area from Destin, Florida to Panama City, Florida is known to have the clearest water in Florida. This area has been awarded the Blue Wave Beach Award for clarity, water quality, and beauty.

What is the clearest water in Florida?

Why is Destin beach white?

The unique white sand on the beaches of Destin, Miramar Beach, and 30A come from small quartz particles from the Appalachian Mountains over 20,000 years ago. The Apalachicola River carried water and these quartz particles to the Gulf of Mexico and still continues to do so today.

Why is the water in Florida so clear?

Our shores have shallow waters often resulting in sandbars, so the sun can reflect off the white sea floors and the surrounding microscopic plankton, which creates the gradient effect of clear-to-emerald-to azure-to-navy waters as you progress further out into the Gulf.

Crystal Clear Water of Destin, Florida

What is the cleanest beach in Florida?

Just east of Destin on Hwy 98, Panama City Beach marks the end of the beaches of South Walton. These beaches are widely considered to be the clearest and pure in the country.

What is the bluest beach in Florida?

Anna Maria Island

It is one of the beaches in Florida with the clearest water, so clear you can see the ocean floor easily. And the beach is huge more than 22 across to explore here. The atmosphere here is much quieter and slower it's perfect for a family-friendly holiday or a romantic getaway.

Is Destin a man made beach?

Destin's Famed East Pass is Man-Made

They began digging a path from Choctawhatchee Bay all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Clearly, they had the right idea. On the same day that the digging began, the flood waters were released and rushed through, creating what we now know as the East Pass.

What is so special about Destin Florida?

Destin is "the world's luckiest fishing village" because the edge of the Continental Shelf -- the gathering place for blackfin tuna, grouper, amberjack, and king mackerel -- is just 20 miles offshore.

How common are sharks in Destin?

When we say rare, we mean it. There have only ever been three shark attacks in Destin, Fort Walton Beach and Okaloosa Island since 1882, according to the University of Florida. And, there has never been a fatally resulting from a shark attack in the heart of Florida's Emerald Coast.

What is the prettiest beach in Florida?

What is the number 1 beach in the US?

1: Manele Bay, Hawaii

For most of the year Hulopoe Bay is the best place for kayaking, swimming and snorkeling on the island. In fact, snorkeling and diving spots here are considered some of the finest in Hawaii, making a swim in the 70-degree water all the more tempting.

What is the prettiest beach in Destin Florida?

Without a doubt, Henderson Beach State Park has the prettiest beach in Destin. As one of Florida's state parks, the land is protected and thus its natural beauty is allowed to thrive. Henderson Beach actually has the last remaining coastal scrub area in the city.

Who has the clearest ocean water?

The Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula

The Weddell Sea has been claimed by scientists to have the clearest waters of any ocean in the world.

Is Destin fresh or salt water?

“The Bay,” as it is called by the locals, is characterized by brackish water, the mixing of freshwater from the bayous with salt water that flows directly into the Bay from the Destin East Pass, the Bay's only direct connection to the Gulf of Mexico.

Is Destin water always clear?

For the most part, the water in Destin is crystal clear. However, storms in the Gulf of Mexico, or if June grass is present, then you will not experience the water as clear as it is at other times. You can check the water clarity forecast by looking up the surf report.

Why is the sand not hot in Destin?

That's because the sand here is made up of 99 percent pure quartz, giving our beach not only its color, but its powdered sugar feel. The beaches of Siesta Key have quartz that originally came from the southern Appalachian Mountains via rivers to the Gulf of Mexico, washing up on the beach over time.

What is the best month to go to Destin?

The overall best time to visit Destin Florida is from April to June, which covers spring and summer months. You'll get perfect weather, warm water temperatures for swimming, and the most options for activities on and off the water at this time of year.

Why does the sand squeak in Destin?

Wave motion and sea levels sort the sands to make them fairly uniform in grain-size. Those same waves, along with winds and storms, bring the sands to the shoreline in a process called “littoral drift.” So next time you think you hear a squeaking or whistling sound when walking on the beach, you're right.

Are there alligators in Destin beach?

Due to its location in the Gulf of Mexico, where a large number of alligators reside, Destin, Florida, is a prime location for alligators. Destin has so many alligators that they have an alligator park named after the reptile, where you can view the alligators from a cane pole.

Are there octopus in Destin?

The area's pristine waters offer unparalleled visibility of native aquatic life, from starfish to octopus.

Why is Destin water emerald?

Our Water's Algae Levels

The color of the water here on the Emerald Coast is attributed to the Algae in the water. When the sun reflects off the Algae it makes our water the beautiful emerald color we all love. Because the sun plays a big role in why the waters are emerald, the water may not be as green on rainy days.

What is the whitest beach in Florida?

Siesta Key boasts some of the softest, whitest sand on the planet.

What is the least popular beach in Florida?

What is the warmest beach in Florida?

Fort Lauderdale, Miami, the Keys, Marco Island and Naples will have the warmest water during the winter. During the summer months, the Gulf of Mexico will be five or more degrees warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. The Gulf may reach 92 degrees or more.