Beach Archive

Sept. 25, 2024 | 4:45 p.m. As Hurricane Helene neared landfall in Florida, surfers were taking advantage of the large swells at Navarre Beach on Thursday, Sept. 26. Photos by Hansen Hasenberg.  

Navarre Beach Fishing Pier is one of the leading areas for sea turtle strandings in the state of Florida. Despite Navarre Beach’s relatively small size (it’s only about 4 miles long), the pier and surrounding area can see anywhere from 45 to 67 turtles a year being rescued from fishing line, hooks and other entrapments. This year, that number is 56, and that’s only through September.

Each year, around seven million people visit the Emerald Coast. While they may come for the green water, sugary white sand, and sunshine, local businesses and county governments are counting on those visitors to bring a different kind of green with them.

Each year on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, first responders from across the Emerald Coast gather at Summerwind Resort on Navarre Beach for a memorial stair climb.

Do you know your purpose?

That’s one of the questions Kevin Laliberte asks participants in his biannual surfing classes. The classes, which are taken over a five-week course, are meant to help veterans and soon-to-retire active-duty members of the U.S. military find themselves post-service through “surf therapy.”

The Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center (NBSTCC) has been undergoing an expansion project for the past year and six months, which will include the addition of several new exhibits. Additionally, the expansion will allow NBSTCC to house some of its animal ambassadors and store some of the turtle rescue team’s gear. The expansion is 1,152 square feet and is situated on the north side of the center.

Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District is adding scuba diving to their first responder repertoire. NBFRD Fire Chief Danny Fureigh, Beach Safety Division Chief Austin Turnbull and nine firefighters from the district have received comprehensive scuba training this summer. The training began May 14. Fureigh said the training adds a much-needed safety net to those on […]

Sea turtle fans rejoice! Navarre Beach has had a confirmed successful nest hatch.

The nest, one of two in the Navarre Beach Marine Park, is set to be assessed Sunday, Aug. 11 by Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center personnel. According to an initial reading of the tracks outside the nest, Cathy Holmes, NBSTCC’s founder, said all but a few turtles went toward the Gulf after hatching.

The long-awaited restoration of Navarre Beach, which was originally supposed to take place last year, is finally happening. According to Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District, the restoration project was awarded to Manson Construction at the bid price of $11,491,462.

The Navarre Beach Fire Rescue District held a christening event to debut their new rescue boat. The boat, which is 25 ft. and 8 inches long and 8 and a half feet wide, will be used in rescue scenarios in Santa Rosa Sound and, if need be, in the Gulf of Mexico.