Maybe New York isn’t so bad after all. Beaches in sunny South Florida are experiencing “the perfect ‘pathogen’ storm” of flesh-eating bacteria that are washing up to shore, according to new research from Florida Atlantic University. It’s happening due to a brown and smelly algae known as sargassum, which is intertwining with plastic marine debris … Read more
If you sea something, say something. With millions beach-bound this Memorial Day weekend, New York-area coastal communities are working overtime to keep swimmers safe while enjoying the region’s increasingly shark-infested waters. With sightings — and panic — on the rise, towns are hoping to avoid any Amity Island-like scenarios by rolling out a range of high-tech … Read more
Sun’s out, shun’s out. The millions of Americans heading outdoors this Memorial Day weekend might want to think twice about hogging prime spots by pools and beaches after an online debate over proper waterside etiquette flooded Reddit. @konijn12 posted about becoming so fed-up with fellow guests at their all-inclusive resort using towels to “reserve” beach … Read more
Whether it’s spirited, sprinting sailfish off the Yucatán or a bevy of big, beautiful bass in Sinaloa, anglers of every stripe are spoiled for choice on the shores of Mexico. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the waters are clear, clean, studded with wildlife preserves and UNESCO world heritage sites, and often a stone’s throw … Read more
Mexico isn’t just ocean resorts and pool parties — it’s a jungle out there. Roughly 34.5% of the country is covered in forests. The area surrounding the Yucatan, down the Atlantic Coast, is famously dense, lush and animal-rich, helping to make Mexico one of the five most biodiverse countries on Earth. But getting lost in … Read more
One man’s trash is another’s treasure. Well, that hopefully will be true for whoever ends up in possession of the terrifying barnacle-ridden dolls found on a Texas beach, which are now headed to auction to raise money for a local wildlife rehabilitation group. The creepy plastic demon babies were found along a 40-mile stretch in … Read more
Social media users have weighed in on the controversy over a voluptuous mermaid statue in southern Italy, and most critics are taking issue with the mermaid having both a human backside and a fishtail. “The debate aroused by the Mermaid is welcome, as long as it is about such issues like the freedom of artistic expression or … Read more
Michael Caine appeared to be on the mend when he was spotted getting some sun in Barbados following his back surgery. The 90-year-old Oscar winner was helped out by his aide and a walking frame on Sunday as he enjoyed the Easter holiday in the Caribbean. Caine donned a baby blue button-down, black shorts, sneakers … Read more
A surf club has sent a swimmer a letter because she’s breached its no-nudity rule… in the changing rooms. Nada Pantle frequents the change rooms at the Terrigal Surf Lifesaving club on the New South Wales, Australia Central Coast and enjoys having a morning swim, then a quick shower, before heading to work. To do … Read more
Sharks have returned in full numbers to a popular destination in Thailand, creating a difficult situation for an area looking to revive its tourism attraction. Video of Maya Bay, located on the island of Ko Phi Phi Leh off the southwest of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, shows a heavy volume of beach-goers on the beaches … Read more
“Exercise increased caution,” reads the travel advisory for Mozambique on the US State Department’s website. I know they’re mostly referring to the terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists in the country’s north. But in the idyllic south near Bazaruto Archipelago National Park, my biggest problem is the mosquitoes. Although some of these thirsty little bloodsuckers carry … Read more
Not all of the Caribbean is teeming with tourists. Just consider the luxurious, stunning and under-appreciated isle of Anguilla. It has long hovered at the bottom end of visitor numbers in the Caribbean — with just 30,000 or so visitors in 2019, compared with the million or more sun seekers who hit the Bahamas each … Read more
All it takes is a 15-minute flight and 8 miles of open ocean to lose the crowds, cruise ships and cookie-cutter chain resorts. Now, you’re in Vieques, a tiny islet off “mainland” Puerto Rico. It’s a dose of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean that time forgot. For decades, most of the island was essentially cut off from … Read more
A 5,000-mile seaweed belt lurking in the Atlantic Ocean is expected in the next few months to wash onto beaches in the Caribbean Sea, South Florida, and the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt — as the biomass stretching from West Africa to the Gulf of Mexico is called — contains scattered … Read more
Spring Break, forever? An adult couple went viral on TikTok after sharing how they “accidentally” ended up on a wild trip for spring break last week — despite the fact that they hadn’t celebrated the holiday since their school years. “When you accidentally go on spring break,” the duo, Dalton and Sake, captioned a video … Read more
Coastal communities around the world are adding a tropical twist to shoreline protection, courtesy of the humble coconut. From the sands of the Jersey Shore to the islands of Indonesia, strands of coconut husk, known as coir, are being incorporated into shoreline protection projects. Often used in conjunction with other measures, the coconut material is … Read more
A dog owner’s rant about beachgoers not letting her dog sit under their tent for shade has divided the internet. Alana Reid, who has a French bulldog, complained online that some people on the beach would not let her panting dog sit underneath their beach tent while she waited for her husband to arrive with … Read more
When Aussies think of traveling to Japan, they might think skiing in winter or seeing the cherry blossoms in spring. But what about the beach in summer? Would the TikTok below convince you to pack your beach towel and thongs for the East Asian country this year? A woman from Spain – a popular destination … Read more
A teenage boy spent Christmas Day in hospital after swallowing a bluebottle while swimming at Bondi Beach in Australia. The 18-year-old managed to make his way back to shore after the stinger crawled into his mouth, where he was treated by lifeguards, who called an ambulance at about 1:20 pm. A spokeswoman for NSW Ambulance … Read more
It was like a Mock Ness monster. A baffled British beachcomber experienced vex on the beach after sharing pics of a bizarre beast they found on washed ashore — with many viewers comparing it to the legendary Loch Ness monster. The perplexing jetsam was reportedly discovered in November but only recently surfaced on Reddit, where … Read more