As you look along Navarre Beach you will no doubt see flags along the coastline. These flags are posted daily to alert you to swimming conditions for everyone's safety. What these flags mean may not be completely apparent so we provide you the chart shown below.
When you see red, double red and purple flags you should stay out of the surf and enjoy the safety of our pool and the Sound. These flags represent rip currents and rough surf are present and it isn't worth risking your life or those who may attempt to save you just to see just how skilled a swimmer you are.
100 Fatalities Every Year: Rip Currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore, capable of sweeping even the strongest swimmers out to sea and are often called “killer currents” for a good reason. Although estimates vary, rip currents are responsible for approximately 100 deaths every year and probably thousands worldwide. Early this summer eight people were killed in Florida rip currents over a four-day span that started on June 20th, 2024.
Click the link to view the Riptide Safety Presentation by the National Weather Service:
2021_RipCurrentBasics_final.pdf
Safety in the Sound: A major draw to the Santa Rosa Sound just outside the Seahorse Retreat is it is naturally protected by a barrier island. By not being directly exposed to the Gulf, we don't experience rip currents. The water is also shallow for hundreds of feet from our shoreline. There is marine life in the Sound, but our guests have not reported any issues with stingray as they will often scurry away than be stepped upon. And where jelly fish can be found, we haven't experienced problem with massive amounts that prevent enjoyment of the water.