Beach Archive

The Emerald Coast is no stranger to sea turtles in need of help. Sea turtles get caught at fishing piers, are injured by boats and find themselves entrapped by plastic and other items that find their way into the ocean.

The popularity of diving in northwest Florida has grown in recent years. Escambia and Santa Rosa counties just recently deployed two more reefs as part of the Esca-Rosa Regional Artificial Reefs project. With over 100 diving sites stretched across the Emerald Coast, from Escambia to Gulf County, there are plenty of opportunities for locals and visitors to explore reefs and marine life.

The Gulfarium’s C.A.R.E. Center successfully released six rehabilitated sea turtle patients on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 at Inlet Beach in the Florida panhandle. The Gulfarium C.A.R.E. Center has taken in 89 patients this year, and so far has released 58 of them. Today, six sea turtles, four Loggerheads, one Kemps ridley, and one Green were able to return to the Gulf of Mexico.

Recently, there has been some chatter on social media regarding the boat ramp parking lot on Navarre Beach. Several beachgoers parked there and came back to find their vehicle had a warning hanging on its door.

A 40-year-old law could threaten federal funding for Navarre Beach renourishment, Michael Schmidt said last week. Schmidt, director of Santa Rosa County’s Environmental and Public Works departments, said Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are interpreting the 1982 Coastal Barrier Resource Act differently than they have for past beach restoration projects.

The Santa Rosa Island Authority is thrilled to announce that local naval aviator and retired Marine Corps Major Paul Entrekin is celebrating his 30th season as Air Boss of the Pensacola Beach Air Show this year.

Have you ever wondered who controls the schedule for all the aerial acts, mass formations, high-speed jet demonstrations and pyrotechnics at every show? Enter the Air Boss.

As the Air Boss, Entrekin has the primary responsibility for coordinating all air show operations within the demonstration area and plays a critical role in ensuring a safe, efficient and entertaining air show every year. All of this while also meeting the latest standard air show regulations.

Pensacola’s hometown heroes will be front and center at the 2023 Pensacola Beach Air Show, hosted by the Santa Rosa Island Authority (SRIA), July 5-8, 2023. The elite U.S. Navy Blue Angels will headline all events which culminate on Saturday, July 8, with the official Air Show.

Rip currents can prove deadly for beachgoers. According to the National Weather Service’s 2023 surf zone fatalities list (Jan. 1 to June 24), Florida leads the way with 27 fatalities, only two of which were non-rip current related. In nearby Bay County, Panama City Beach had seven drownings from June 15 to June 24. All of which were related to rip currents.

The Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office (TDO) released the results of a community survey, which ended June 1. The survey asked for public input concerning possible future amenities and projects for the Navarre and Navarre Beach areas. Approximately 1,695 people answered the survey. There was a list of seven Navarre Beach amenities people were told to rank from top priority to lowest priority.

The Bayou Coast Kayak Fishing Club is hooked on Navarre Beach; the Louisiana-based group will host its first Offshore Mania tournament this weekend, Saturday, June 24, and Sunday, June 25, from the Sea Oats Pavilion.