Beach Archive

Waves crash against the shore on a sun-splashed Monday morning on Navarre Beach. The sun is shining and a yellow flag is flying, warning swimmers of the dangerous rip currents in the Gulf of Mexico and to swim with caution.

The creatures appear as something out of a science fiction movie.

Charlene Mauro knew she had been nominated for a prestigious award from the National Marine Educator’s Association but the science specialist with the Santa Rosa County School District had no idea she would actually win the Johnette B. Bosarge Memorial Award.

Children between the ages of 8 to 11 took to the waters of Navarre Beach and Black Water River July 18-22 for the second annual PaddlePalooza Summer Camp hosted by the Navarre Beach Marine Science Station.

Dozens of beach visitors gathered around to watch Harriet the rehabilitated sea turtle’s return to the Gulf of Mexico Thursday, July 14 on Opal Beach.

Boy or girl?

It is the first question many expectant parents have on the brain. For the hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle babies waiting to hatch on Navarre Beach, answering that question depends on the weather, specifically the temperature of the sand.

On June 16, World Turtle Day, thousands of letters bound in dozens of four- inch thick binders were hand delivered to President Barack Obama and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker demanding legislation to protect endangered sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico.

According to lead guard Charles Marek, the 2016 beach renourishment has had a significant impact to this year’s beach visitors. “We have had many more people on the beach this year,” Marek said. “They have heard about the renourishment and want to see for themselves.”

The summer tourist season is in full swing on Navarre Beach, and west of the fishing pier, lines of bright blue and green umbrellas once again dot the waterline courtesy of rental companies.

The Navarre Beach Marine Science Station (NBMSS) is one step closer to making the Gulf Coast Discovery Center (GCDC) a reality as final preparations are underway for the installation of a live-streaming reef camera.