When is water clear in South Walton, Destin, 30A?

Kurt and SmilingJOe could give you the best answer. I have found the water to be clear in the Spring and Fall (May, June, end of Aug, Sept, Oct.) July seems to be seaweed season. I look forward to Kurt and SJ's answers. 8)

The water is almost always free of seaweed from Fall through Spring. In the Summer it can be hit or miss depending on the water temps and currents. Onshore winds blow seaweed towards the beach, especially after a big storm.

There's more info about seaweed, as well as other factors month by month here:
http://www.graytonbeach.com/weather.html

Kurt is right on target as usual. You will not find seaweed nor algae on the Beach or water right now, but you also wouldn't be swimming so you wont get it in your suit either.

Perhaps you could stay longer on your next visit. After being exposed to it for a while, you won't notice a smell at all.

After being here several years, I've tried to notice trends in the sea life and water conditions. As has already been mentioned, it's hit or miss. There are a number of contributing factors. As has already been mentioned as well is water temp and wind direction. I don't quite understand yet what causes the June Grass(the alge type stuff in the water you mentioned). Obviously, from the name, you'd expect it around June. But, it seems to depend on how quickly the water warms up. Also, june grass is typically only found in much quantity right along the shore. You can go out to the second sand bar and on the other side of that you won't see hardly any unless you have an off-shore breeze come through. What's confusing about the June Grass is it seems that water temperatures warming more quickly causes more and causes it to stay longer. But, when it clears up the water is still very warm and generally has not started to cool down yet at all. If you keep tabs on the water temperature(which I haven't checked each year when I see it show up but I'll check this year), you will probably notice trends such as if the water is x degrees by x time, the June Grass will show within a certain time period. I believe, but just from a few years observation, that the earlier it shows, the longer it stays. We moved here Sept 2, 2001. The water was crystal clear with water temp in the mid 80s for quite a while after we arrived here. That year there were also hundreds and hundreds of Manta Rays cruising along the shore going East to West seemed like for about a month and there were tons of blue crabs that year. I expected the same the next year but June Grass was really bad in 2002 and although the Manta Rays showsed up, not nearly as many and same for the blue crabs.

Of course, during the Summer you have almost constant onshore winds all through Summer, gradually building through the day and starting onshore SE moving to S and then SW and dying off in the evening. That seabreeze does bring in some Sargasso seaweed. That's the type that feels more course than the June Grass and has airfilled pockets in the plant that cause it to stay on top of the water. It doesn't smell like the June Grass does though. The June Grass will smell bad and it also picks up Jelly Fish tentacles and Sea Nettles which will sting you even though you don't see a Jelly Fish around.


Does anyone know if there is any place on the web that has documented sea and plant life patterns for this area from year to year and recorded whether patterns and water temperature? I bet you could learn a lot about when is best to come. But, I can tell you for sure end of Summer and into the Fall is the best time if you like warm clear water and less crowded beaches.

Thanks for the info :!: Spend lots of time on the beach do ya :wink: anyway I wondered why I felt like I was getting stung with no sign of jelly fish. Now I know. 8)

The gulf water in South Walton all along 30A is extremely clear right now. There is a little bit of June Grass but not spread out because water is so calm.

No June Grass or seweed in South Walton right now but have a feeling it will be heavy soon because of mild winter and warm water temps.

Can someone update me on water conditions in early October? Looking to book a house in Seacrest this Oct 2-9 but want to make sure we will have nice clear water similar to Destin

Can someone update me on water conditions in early October? Looking to book a house in Seacrest this Oct 2-9 but want to make sure we will have nice clear water similar to Destin

Very rarely is one day the same as the next. SoWal is basically the same as Destin water with the exception that if you are to the west of an open lake outfall you might get lake water mix.

Assuming no tropical weather churning things up, October water is usually really nice.

Assuming no tropical weather churning things up, October water is usually really nice.

Great, thanks so much for the insight!

How is the water clarity/seaweed typically in mid august? TIA

It's impossible to guarantee clear water, but chances are early October is a great time. Unfortunately, some of our worst hurricanes have occurred in October as well.

How is the water clarity/seaweed typically in mid august? TIA

Hit or miss. I know that isn't terribly helpful, but August is just one of those months where I can recall both near perfect water and some pretty weedy water as well. On the other hand, it is so blasted hot in August, you'll probably want to get in it no matter what.

Every year is different. Almost impossible to tell how things will be in any given month.

Thanks for the responses! By chance can any of you tell me what beach rd access this is on blue mountain beach in the below link? Thanks!

How has the water been lately?

How has the water been lately?

Warm and extremely wet.

Seriously though, there's no guarantees to clear water, especially if there's rain in the forecast. Heavy rain fall usually causes the dune lakes to burst releasing the tannin filled waters that cause completely black to hard to see in water.

It'll all be brown shortly though as Bay County is restoring the East Pass.

Warm and extremely wet.

Seriously though, there's no guarantees to clear water, especially if there's rain in the forecast. Heavy rain fall usually causes the dune lakes to burst releasing the tannin filled waters that cause completely black to hard to see in water.

It'll all be brown shortly though as Bay County is restoring the East Pass.

What is east pass?

Warm and extremely wet.

Seriously though, there's no guarantees to clear water, especially if there's rain in the forecast. Heavy rain fall usually causes the dune lakes to burst releasing the tannin filled waters that cause completely black to hard to see in water.

It'll all be brown shortly though as Bay County is restoring the East Pass.

We had a code brown in one of our pools yesterday

What is east pass?

What is east pass?

East pass is the Choctawhatchee Bay's inlet in Destin. There's an East Pass into Andrews Bay as well in PC. When the tide goes out bay water in the bays which is very brown with tannins flows into the gulf making the water a bit brown at the outflow. When the tide reverses, the water flows back into the bays and will be clear and green. There's nothing wrong or dirty with it. It's just brown water from the same process that makes your iced tea brown.

East pass is the Choctawhatchee Bay's inlet in Destin. There's an East Pass into Andrews Bay as well in PC. When the tide goes out bay water in the bays which is very brown with tannins flows into the gulf making the water a bit brown at the outflow. When the tide reverses, the water flows back into the bays and will be clear and green. There's nothing wrong or dirty with it. It's just brown water from the same process that makes your iced tea brown.

The East pass I'm referring to is currently closed and allows Shell Island to remain a peninsula. When Bay county reopens it it allows St. Andrews Bay to continuously drain. This was done in the late 90's and it creates a constant darkening of the Gulf Waters. As the current naturally moves west to east along the coast it will begin dragging that cloud in our direction, BUT some of the recreational fishermen in Bay county won't have to drive through the current pass.

The East pass I'm referring to is currently closed and allows Shell Island to remain a peninsula. When Bay county reopens it it allows St. Andrews Bay to continuously drain. This was done in the late 90's and it creates a constant darkening of the Gulf Waters. As the current naturally moves west to east along the coast it will begin dragging that cloud in our direction, BUT some of the recreational fishermen in Bay county won't have to drive through the current pass.

How would it make the Gulf darker? Because there is already a pass at St Andres State Park and Shell Island?

How would it make the Gulf darker? Because there is already a pass at St Andres State Park and Shell Island?

Think of the bay like a beer can, right now it's open like any other beer can; now punch a hole in the other end, pours a lot faster now doesn't it? They are effectively shotgunning the bay.

I lived here during that time, the waters off of PCB were never clear, once they allowed the East pass to seal back up it returned to emerald waters.