Beach Safety on the OBX

By LTBRTO, CURRENTtv, and the NPS — Apr. 11, 2023

Text OBXBEACHCONDITIONS to 77295 to receive alerts about beach weather and ocean conditions.

Love the Beach Respect the Ocean has partnered with Current TV to create a series of short Beach Hazard PSA's focused on staying safe along the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This guide shares ways to enjoy the beach while giving the ocean the respect it requires, with practical guidance for protecting yourself and helping others understand lifesaving safety basics.

Shorebreak

The ocean’s strength should be taken seriously by everyone. Shorebreak waves can surprise swimmers and force them into the sand, which may lead to neck and back injuries and, in some cases, drowning. With a few local safety practices, these situations are often avoidable.

• Before heading out, know the conditions and review the local beach forecast.
• Swim in an area watched by a lifeguard.
• Stay aware of waves coming in, even if you are only standing close to the waterline.
• In the water, use the over-and-under approach: go over smaller waves and under larger ones.

Rip Currents

The ocean’s power calls for respect from everyone. Even when the water looks calm, strong rip currents that can be difficult to spot may be present all along the coast. Each year, swimmers are caught in rip currents, and many lose their lives.

These tragedies can often be avoided by following a few local safety reminders.

• Check the local beach forecast before you leave for the shore, and understand conditions before entering the water.
• Swim where lifeguards are present.
• If a rip current catches you, stay calm, float, wave, and call out until assistance reaches you.
• Strong swimmers should avoid fighting the current and instead swim parallel to the beach until they are out of the rip current’s pull.

Marine Life

The marine life in the ocean deserves everyone’s respect. Remember that the ocean is home to many creatures that are beautiful and, at times, dangerous.

Risky encounters with marine life can often be prevented with a few local precautions.

• Swim near a lifeguard.
• When walking through the water, shuffle your feet to help avoid skates and rays.
• Stay reasonably close to shore.
• Do not enter the water at night, dawn, or dusk.
• Keep away from wildlife moving through the water.
• Avoid areas where people are fishing, as well as places where schools of bait fishes are present. Diving seabirds can signal this kind of activity.

Beaches with Lifeguards

Lifeguarded beaches are by far the safest places to swim. Below are lifeguarded beach locations from Duck through Hatteras Island. Most are staffed with lifeguards from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day (9am-5pm).

Duck

• Barrier Island Station
• Four Seasons
• Plover Drive
• Schooner Ridge Drive
• Sprigtail Drive

Southern Shores

• Chickahauk Beach
• Hillcrest Beach

Kitty Hawk

• Byrd Street - milepost 2
• Eckner Street - milepost 3
• Kitty Hawk Bath House, south of Kitty Hawk Road - milepost 4

Kill Devil Hills

• 1st Street - Milepost 7.5
• 2nd Street - milepost 7.25
• 4th Street - milepost 6.75
• 5th Street - milepost 6.5 (near KMART)
• Asheville Street - milepost 7.5
• Atlantic Street - milepost 9.5
• Calvin Street - mp9
• Carlow Avenue - MP 8.25
• Clark Street - MP 9
• Hayman Boulevard - MP 5.75
• Helga Street - MP 5.5
• Lake Drive - MP 9.75
• Martin Street - MP 9.25
• Neptune Drive (Ocean Acres) - MP 9.75
• Ocean Bay Boulevard - MP 8.5
• Oregon Avenue - MP 8.6
• Woodmere Avenue - MP 8

Nags Head

• Albatross Street - MP 10.25
• Bonnett Street - MP 11.5
• Enterprise Street - MP 14
• Epstein Street - MP 14.5
• Forrest Street - MP 15.75
• Gray Eagle Street - MP 16.5
• Gulf Stream Street - MP 16.6
• Hollowell Street - MP 12
• Hargrove Street - MP 17.5
• Juncos Street - MP 19.5

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

• Coquina Beach Access (Bodie Island)
• Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access (Cape Hatteras Lighthouse old location)
• Added in 2019: Frisco Beach Access (Located just south of Frisco Village)

The CHNS shares the daily beach forecast and ocean safety details on its website and social media, including Facebook and Twitter.

Visiting the beautiful beaches of the Outer Banks can be a memorable and enjoyable experience for families and many other travelers. Whether you plan to swim, sail, surf, walk the shoreline, relax in the sun, or take part in other coastal activities, the goal is for your beach time to be both safe and fun. Live like a local, love the beach, respect the ocean. #lovethebeachrespecttheocean

Love the Beach Respect the Ocean is working with CURRENTtv and the National Park Service in Dare County to support beach safety awareness.