If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate sun‑bathing playground, you’ve just stumbled upon the top 10 best sandy sanctuaries the planet has to offer. Whether you crave secluded tranquility, a vibrant party vibe, or a touch of nudist freedom, we’ve curated a lineup that satisfies every sun‑lover’s craving. From iconic coastlines to hidden coves, each spot delivers the perfect blend of golden rays, soft sand, and unforgettable surroundings. Let’s dive into the sun‑kissed wonders that make these beaches truly world‑class.

Why These Are the Top 10 Best Beaches for Sun Worship

10 La Minitas Beach: La Romana, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic’s coastline is famed for its pristine, untouched beauty, and La Minitas Beach stands out as a tranquil oasis. Accessible only via a brief ten‑minute shuttle or golf‑cart ride, it offers a semi‑secluded vibe perfect for those who cherish privacy. Despite its hush‑hush setting, nearby eateries satisfy any hunger pangs, and the cherry on top is a beachfront massage room—imagine soaking up the sun while a therapist works out the knots. Sun, sand, and a soothing rub—what more could a beachgoer ask for?

9 White Beach: Boracay Island, Philippines

Stretching over two miles of powder‑soft, perpetually cool white sand, White Beach is the epitome of a sun‑bather’s paradise. Once a hidden gem, it burst onto the global stage roughly three decades ago and now ranks among the world’s premier tropical escapes. To catch it at its best, aim for the Amihan season (September through June) when temperatures stay mild, rain is scarce, and a gentle eastward breeze keeps you comfortable as you bask.

8 South Beach: Miami, Florida

South Beach is the quintessential “see and be seen” hotspot. If you love soaking up rays while people‑watching, this is the place to flaunt your swimwear and maybe even spot a celebrity or two. The beach truly comes alive after dark, transforming into a buzzing nightlife arena. For those who prefer quiet contemplation over party scenes, a quick gym session followed by a stroll along the iconic boardwalk will satisfy both the body and the soul.

7 Santorini’s Red Beach: Akrotiri, Greek Islands

Red Beach in Santorini dazzles with its dramatic red‑lava cliffs that frame a slice of shoreline covered in uniquely hued sand. Access requires a short boat ride or a ten‑minute trek down a steep path, adding a sense of adventure to the visit. The island itself rose from a dormant volcano, earning legends that label it as the true Atlantis—its cliffs literally slipped beneath the sea in a single night, leaving behind this spectacular coastal tableau.

6 Tulum Beach: Tulum, Mexico

Mexico boasts an abundance of gorgeous shorelines, but Tulum distinguishes itself with its proximity to awe‑inspiring Mayan ruins. Situated roughly 80 miles from the bustling hub of Cancun, it offers a perfect balance: close enough for a day trip, yet far enough to retain a tranquil, less‑crowded atmosphere. The area remains relatively untouched by mass tourism, providing a peaceful retreat for those who love archaeology, history, or simply a sun‑kissed escape with a dash of ancient mystique.

5 Nudist Camp Beach: Vrboska, The Island of Hvar, Croatia

For sun‑bathers who detest tan lines, Vrboska’s naturalist beach offers a liberating experience. Nestled among vineyards, pine groves, and olive trees, this cove provides a stunning backdrop for nude sunbathing. Rocky outcrops create private nooks for those who crave seclusion while in their birthday suit. If you’d like to extend the adventure, a nearby naturist camp supplies a modest restaurant, shop, and even a gas station, ensuring comfort without compromising the free‑spirit vibe.

4 Hanalei Bay Beach: Kauai, Hawaii

When picture‑perfect is the goal, Hanalei Bay delivers a near‑perfect semi‑circular stretch of powdery white sand framed by cascading waterfalls and towering mountains that pierce the clouds. While the spot can get busy—especially during winter surf season—the sheer visual splendor makes it worth the occasional crowd. No other beach worldwide offers such a harmonious blend of ocean, waterfall, and mountain scenery for your tanning sessions.

3 Ocracoke Island: North Carolina

If privacy is paramount, Ocracoke Island is a hidden treasure reachable only by boat, private plane, or ferry. Modern gadgets are discouraged here, preserving an authentic wilderness vibe. The island’s untouched shoreline boasts some of the purest sand you’ll ever feel between your toes. Bring a good book, lay back, and let the gentle Atlantic breeze do the rest while you relish true seclusion.

2 Ipanema Beach: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Made famous by a timeless song, Ipanema rose to global fame in the 1970s when daring women began sporting “tangas”—the ancestors of today’s thong swimwear. The beach still radiates that spirit of freedom, with topless sunbathing commonplace and thong attire the norm. Rio’s vibrant energy and open‑minded culture make it an ideal stage for showcasing your hard‑earned beach body while soaking up the sun.

1 Santa Cruz Beaches: Santa Cruz, California

Santa Cruz epitomizes classic Californian beach life, boasting nearly 30 miles of diverse shoreline. Surf enthusiasts gravitate toward Steamer Lane, while romantics might prefer the secluded charm of Seascape Beach. For those seeking a blend of sun, surf, and amusement, Main Beach offers a nostalgic boardwalk complete with rides, games, and eateries just steps from the sand. No matter your vibe, Santa Cruz provides a beach for every personality.

best beaches mexico beckon with crystal‑clear water, powder‑soft sand, and endless adventures. Whether you crave luxury all‑inclusive resorts, untouched wilderness, world‑class surf, or a quiet spot to watch turtles glide by, Mexico’s coastline delivers a beach for every vibe. Below, we count down the top 21 sun‑kissed shores that should be on every traveler’s bucket list.

1 The Lagunas de Chacahua, Oaxaca

Why This Is Among the Best Beaches Mexico Offers

To get to this slice of paradise, you’ll need a modest dose of effort—and it’s totally worth it. The Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, accessed by water taxi from Puerto Escondido, hides one of Mexico’s most remote and idyllic shorelines. On the northern fringe where the lagoon meets the Pacific, a pristine beach unfolds, drawing surfers from Australia, the United States, and beyond who chase perfect waves among the modest beach huts.

Stargazers also flock here; the area’s low light pollution creates a dazzling night sky, making “lights out” a literal experience. Expect minimal amenities, so pack your own supplies. The sweet spot for visiting runs from December through April, when sunshine reigns and the air stays dry.

2 Playa Canalán, Nayarit

Playa Canalán stretches wide with warm, white sand edged by jungle‑capped mountains. Once untouched, it now hosts the celebrated One&Only Mandarina resort, the chic Canalan Beach Club, and the notable Italian eatery Allora—all part of the newly crafted Mandarina community, a boutique enclave of coveted coastal real estate.

Mandarina’s all‑villa concept showcases 105 striking standalone structures, ranging from cliff‑top villas to whimsical treehouses. Located less than an hour north of Puerto Vallarta on the Riviera Nayarit, the resort opened its doors on November 1, 2020, offering a blend of adventurous pursuits and serene seclusion.

3 Playa Cerritos, Baja California Sur

Just north of Los Cabos, the Pacific‑coast town of Todos Santos has long been a sanctuary for surfers and artists. A short drive away, Playa Cerritos stands as the region’s most celebrated beach, a historic hotspot for wave‑hunters and a rare Pacific stretch in Baja where swimming is safe.

Today the beach buzzes with boutique shops, vibrant art galleries, and a lively crowd sipping oysters and champagne. While it’s gotten busier over the years, its reputation as one of Mexico’s premier beaches remains unshaken.

4 Playa Canalán, Nayarit

Playa Canalán is a long, wide stretch of warm, white sand bookended by lush, jungle‑covered mountains. Until recently, it was completely undeveloped. Today, it’s home to the well‑known One&Only Mandarina resort, the popular Canalan Beach Club, and the noteworthy Italian restaurant named Allora. These are all part of Mandarina, a newly planned community that occupies some of the most coveted real‑estate on the coast.

One&Only Mandarina is an all‑villa resort offering 105 striking standalone structures consisting of cliff‑top villas and treehouses. It’s located less than one hour north of Puerto Vallarta on Riviera Nayarit. The resort opened its doors on November 1, 2020, and offers both adventurous activities and secluded tranquility.

5 Playa Mayto, Jalisco

This secluded stretch, on the Cabo Corrientes coast, is one of Mexico’s longest and most remote beaches. You’ll find it roughly two hours south of Puerto Vallarta. Travelers must brave a dusty road that departs from Federal Highway 200 in the small town of El Tuito to get to the beach.

Nearly seven miles of largely undeveloped sand, a few local lodging and dining options, and one of Jalisco’s largest sea‑turtle protection camps—pioneering research and conservation since 2005—are found there. If you’re staying nearby, ask your hotel about a day‑trip to the turtle camp.

6 Playa Troncones, Guerrero

Formerly dominated by Acapulco’s glitzy resorts, Guerrero’s quieter coves are now stealing the spotlight. Playa Troncones, an unassuming hamlet, draws surfers chasing the best waves on Mexico’s sunny southern Pacific coast.

Its three‑mile stretch of golden sand, cobalt‑blue waves, and a laid‑back vibe that originally lured travelers now welcomes visitors seeking both adventure and relaxation.

7 Playa Balandra, Baja California Sur

Just a half‑hour north of La Paz, Playa Balandra offers a picture‑perfect crescent of sand that resembles a lagoon, its calm, turquoise waters lapping gently at the shore.

It’s a hotspot for marine life enthusiasts; the Sea of Cortez here is famed as one of the world’s most spectacular snorkeling arenas, letting visitors get up close with vibrant fish, sea turtles, and more.

8 Puerto Progreso, Yucatán

Travel north to the port town of Progreso and the historic city of Mérida. Cruise passengers disembark onto a four‑mile‑long pier, then wander the Malécon—an inviting beachfront promenade lined with boutiques, snack bars, and eateries.

Kick off your sandals, savor fresh ceviche, and gaze out over the Gulf of Mexico while spotting pink flamingos perched beneath beachside palapas.

9 Playa El Médano, Baja California Sur

Playa El Médano is one of the few Los Cabos beaches safe for swimming, stretching 2.5 miles with gentle, kid‑friendly waves.

While the beach can get bustling—bars and eateries line the shore—the vibrant energy, five‑star hotels, and icy beach cocktails make it a hotspot worth a visit.

10 The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, Quintana Roo

A 1.3‑million‑acre UNESCO World Heritage site south of Tulum, the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve dazzles nature lovers with uninhabited white‑sand beaches, swaying palms, dense mangrove forests, and sparkling azure waters.

Its Mexican Caribbean waters host dolphins, jaguars, ocelots, spider monkeys, and whales. Visitors can snorkel, kayak, bird‑watch, or simply float down the tranquil canals while soaking in the pristine scenery.

11 Playa Tangolunda, Oaxaca

Huatulco’s famed nine bays include Playa Tangolunda, a protected‑area beach offering sailing, scuba diving, upscale resorts, an 18‑hole golf course, and a variety of dining options in nearby La Crucecita.

The coastline’s natural beauty shines through, with pristine sands and vivid sunsets that make every visit unforgettable.

12 Playa Maroma, Quintana Roo

Veteran travelers often cite Playa Maroma as a top Riviera Maya beach. The exclusive stretch is home to a handful of upscale hotels, including over‑water bungalows, offering immaculate white sand and tranquil, crystal‑clear blue water.

Unlike many bustling beach towns, Maroma stays true to the idyllic, tropical vision you picture when dreaming of a perfect seaside escape.

13 Isla Holbox, Quintana Roo

Though once a backpacker waypoint, Isla Holbox has blossomed into a bohemian‑luxury hotspot. Barefoot beach lovers can sip cold beers while the island’s Caribbean‑inspired seafood, like at Races, tantalizes taste buds.

Don’t forget a yoga mat, plenty of insect repellent, and the chance to stay in eco‑lodges or upscale beachfront hotels for a truly unforgettable experience.

14 Playa Mujeres, Quintana Roo

Once a hidden gem north of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, Playa Mujeres still boasts fine white sand and a tranquil vibe despite a surge in upscale resorts.

Couples can unwind at the adults‑only Beloved Playa Mujeres, while families might opt for the larger TRS Coral Hotel or Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa.

15 Playa La Punta, Oaxaca

Playa La Punta, a quieter slice of Playa Zicatela in Puerto Escondido, has long been a hippie haven with dusty roads, laid‑back eateries, and a plethora of hostels.

New boutique hotels and an outdoor food court are reshaping its reputation, yet the beach remains a favorite front‑row spot for sunset watching. Boutique stays like Suites La Hacienda or Hotel Santa Fe provide the perfect base for ocean‑view relaxation.

16 Playa Paraiso, Quintana Roo

Just south of Tulum’s iconic ruins, Playa Paraiso shines as one of the area’s most beautiful sands, boasting pristine waters and powder‑white shores.

The expansive stretch draws locals and tourists alike for swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, beach bars, and sunbathing, making it a true centerpiece of Tulum’s coastal activity.

17 Playa Blanca, Guerrero

Just ten miles from Zihuatanejo, Playa Blanca radiates a “paradise found” aura reminiscent of the Caribbean beach featured in The Shawshank Redemption.

Located near the airport, this sparsely populated stretch offers Robinson‑Crusoe vibes, spectacular sunsets, and a handful of boutique stays like Las Palmas Luxury Villas, delivering a private‑beach experience.

18 Costalegre, Jalisco

Costalegre spans a vast stretch of southern Jalisco coast near the Colima border, offering a collection of untamed beaches each worthy of a top‑list mention.

Luxury resort enclaves like Cuixmala and Careyes attract travelers, while the region remains relatively unexplored despite two nearby international airports, promising future growth in upscale tourism.

19 Playa Cerritos, Baja California Sur

Just north of Los Cabos, the Pacific‑coast town of Todos Santos is a creative haven, and Playa Cerritos is its most famous beach, drawing surfers worldwide.

Beyond the surf, the beach offers safe swimming, chic oyster bars, champagne‑toasting crowds, and a vibrant artistic scene, cementing its status as a top Mexican coastal gem.

20 Playa Canalán, Nayarit

Playa Canalán, a sprawling white‑sand stretch framed by lush jungle‑capped mountains, was once untouched. Today it hosts the One&Only Mandarina resort, the trendy Canalán Beach Club, and the Italian restaurant Allora—all part of the new Mandarina community.

The resort, opened in November 2020, offers 105 standalone cliff‑top villas and treehouses, blending adventure with seclusion just under an hour north of Puerto Vallarta.

21 The Lagunas de Chacahua, Oaxaca

Reaching this secluded paradise requires a short water‑taxi ride from Puerto Escondido into the Lagunas de Chacahua National Park, but the reward is a pristine beach where surfers from around the globe chase perfect waves.

Stars shine brilliantly here thanks to minimal light pollution, making “lights out” a magical experience. Visitors should expect basic amenities and plan trips between December and April for sunny, dry weather.

Everyone loves a trip to the beach. The gentle kiss of the Sun on your skin, the fresh sea‑breeze ticking through the air, the soft grains of sand slipping between your toes, the shimmering waves, the surprising chunks of ice, and even the occasional hot spring—all combine to make a perfect holiday, and some beaches take these wonders to a whole new level.

Why These 10 Strangest Beaches Capture Our Imagination

10 Hidden Beach

Algar de Benagil, perched on Portugal’s famed Algarve coast, hides a secret that only the curious discover. From the cliff‑top you can hear the roar of waves, yet you won’t know where the sound originates until you spot a fenced‑off opening in the rock face. Peering down, you’ll find a secluded stretch of sand tucked beneath a natural roof.

This grotto was carved out over centuries by relentless tides, leaving an arched cavern with a sunlit aperture that pours daylight onto the hidden shoreline. The only way to reach this tiny beach is by sea, so you’ll need to brave the surf and slip between the guarding rocks to set foot on this magical cove.

9 Black Sand And Chunks Of Ice

Iceland’s volcanic heart creates beaches of deep, midnight‑black sand, but the real spectacle lies at Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, where ebony grains are speckled with crystal‑clear ice shards.

The lagoon, linked to the ocean by Iceland’s shortest river—just 1,500 metres long—formed in the mid‑1930s as the Breiðamerkurjökull glacier retreated. The glacier continuously calves massive, diamond‑like ice blocks that drift onto the black‑sand shore, while the sand itself is the pulverised remnants of volcanic rock, ground down by the glacier’s immense weight.

8 Hot Water Beach

Most beachgoers bring buckets and spades for sandcastles, but on New Zealand’s Coromandel Peninsula visitors wield their tools to dig personal hot‑water spas.

When the tide recedes, bubbling water surfaces from the sand—heated by an underground river warmed by geothermal activity. This literal namesake, Hot Water Beach, offers a natural sauna right at the shoreline.

As soon as low tide arrives, people flock with rented spades, carving shallow pools that fill with the steaming water while the cold sea pulls back. The result is a temporary spa where you can soak before the incoming tide washes the pits away, resetting the beach for the next batch of dip‑seekers.

7 Bioluminescent Beaches

Bioluminescence turns ordinary sand into a star‑studded carpet when certain plankton and algae emit light after being disturbed. This natural glow only appears under specific conditions, lighting up entire shorelines.

For predictable displays, head to Mosquito Bay in Puerto Rico, which looks drab by day but erupts in blue‑white sparks at night as tiny dinoflagellates flash when swimmers move through them. In the Maldives, low‑moon evenings coax larger crustaceans to emit a soft blue glow, dotting the sand with luminous specks. Some organisms also shine under pressure, so walking across a bioluminescent beach can leave a trail of glowing footprints.

6 An Inland Beach

Most beaches hug the sea, but Spain’s Gulpiyuri defies that rule, sitting a mere 100 metres from the ocean yet isolated by towering cliffs.

The tiny inlet becomes tidal thanks to a network of hidden caves and channels that connect it to the distant sea. Formed during the last Ice Age, Gulpiyuri—meaning “Circle of Water”—is often called the world’s smallest beach. Visitors can wade in knee‑deep water at low tide, while at high tide the tiny basin fills, offering a surprising splash of seawater far inland.

5 The Disappearing Sea

Low tide usually reveals a broader stretch of sand, but at India’s Chandipur the ocean vanishes entirely, exposing a massive dry seabed.

The coastline’s unusually flat profile allows the sea to retreat up to five kilometres during each low tide. Locals and tourists seize the opportunity to walk, cycle, or even drive across the exposed floor, spotting abundant red crabs and other marine life stranded until the water returns. Timing is crucial—miss the tide, and you could find yourself stranded kilometers from the shore.

4 Shell Beach

While most beachcombers hunt for seashells, Australia’s Shell Beach offers a different treasure: a 70‑kilometre expanse blanketed in layers of cockle shells up to ten metres deep.

Over millennia, trillions of shells have accumulated, forming a massive shell mound that slowly weathers into finer sand. Historically, locals harvested the shells for building material, but today the site is a World Heritage destination, and its hypersaline waters make floating a breeze.

3 Glass Beach

Broken glass is rarely a welcome sight on a shoreline, yet Fort Bragg, California, boasts a beach glittering with sea‑polished glass pebbles.

Decades of dumping unwanted items—including cars—left glass as the only lasting debris. Waves tumbled the shards into smooth, colorful stones that now line the shore. The beach is protected by law, and visitors may not remove the glass. Similar phenomena appear in places like Russia’s Ussuri Bay, where industrial waste created a vivid sea‑glass shoreline.

2 Parrotfish Poop

Imagine strolling across a pristine white beach, the sand slipping through your fingers, and realizing its origin is fish excrement.

Parrotfish graze on coral algae, scraping off calcium carbonate with their beaks. The material passes through their throats, where it’s ground into fine sand before being expelled. A single parrotfish can generate up to 360 kilograms of sand each year, and over centuries, countless fish have turned reefs into the powdery white beaches we adore.

1 Dragon Egg Beach

New Zealand’s dramatic landscapes have filmed fantasy epics, and Dragon Egg Beach lives up to its mythic name with giant, egg‑shaped boulders scattered along Koekohe’s shore.

These Moeraki boulders formed 60 million years ago as concretions of mud, clay, and calcite deep underground. Over time, they were uncovered by erosion, rolling down cliffs onto the beach, each bearing cracks that give the impression of hatching eggs.

According to Māori legend, the stones are the remnants of a wrecked canoe: the hull became the surrounding reef, while the baskets and gourds tossed overboard turned into the massive boulders. The beach remains a popular tourist spot, celebrated for its otherworldly appearance.

Over the years, beachcombers have stumbled upon a wild assortment of oddities. Some are living creatures, others are dead marine life, and a few are plain odd inanimate items. A strange sea foam once rolled ashore, dragging a mishmash of everyday objects that you don’t normally see on a shoreline. Cast‑off shells, mysterious casings, and even a phallic‑shaped animal worthy of Freud’s nightmares have been found washed or crawled onto sand. This roundup of ten bizarre objects discovered on beaches shows just how strange the deep can be.

10 Bizarre Objects You’ll Find on the Shoreline

10 Glowing Rock

On 22 February 2021, Mantana Dao Pibul set out for a stroll along a beach in Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat province. She spotted a piece of coral and, thinking it a souvenir, picked it up. When she shone her phone’s flashlight on it, the rock emitted a eerie red glow, prompting her to wonder if it might be a meteorite. Back home, the glow shifted from red to a vivid purple. Neither Mantana nor her friends could identify the mineral, and she now hopes an expert can explain what she unearthed during her seaside walk.

9 Blue Dragons

The creature is a light‑blue, lizard‑like animal whose dark‑blue markings trace its back. Its ‘feet’ are not reptilian; instead they explode into star‑shaped, spiky rays of varying length. Commonly called a blue dragon, scientists refer to it as Glaucus atlanticus, a nudibranch—a shell‑less gastropod. While it usually drifts on the ocean surface, wind gusts sometimes push whole fleets onto Australian shores. In addition to the 3‑centimetre Glaucus atlanticus, a larger 13‑centimetre relative, Glaucilla marginate, also known as a blue dragon, can be washed ashore.

Both species belong to the pleuston, organisms that live half in water and half in the air, relying on wind to transport them. Though they cannot swim against currents, these tiny animals can spin and even perform somersaults by inhaling air, creating an internal bubble that keeps them buoyant and upside‑down.

Despite their limited mobility, blue dragons are fierce predators in their miniature realm, feeding on colonies of hydroids (called blue buttons) and polyps (bluebottles). Their striking coloration provides camouflage against the ocean’s surface, shielding them from larger predators.

8 Gooseneck Barnacles

While vacationing with his family in Caernarfon, North Wales, Martyn Green noticed his wife Gemma had picked up what looked like driftwood. Upon closer inspection, Green realized the object was teeming with thousands of tentacled sea creatures, making it seem otherworldly.

A quick internet search by Green and his son revealed the find to be gooseneck barnacles. Green also discovered a culinary twist: in Spain and Portugal these barnacles are a delicacy, selling for about £25 (≈ US $34.82) each. He estimated the ‘driftwood’ could contain roughly 2,000 barnacles—a tidy haul.

7 Sea Foam

The bizarre sea foam that blanketed New South Wales beaches in December 2020 was a moving gift. Storms mixed seawater with algae, salts, fats and pollutants, forming a thick frothy layer. This strange foam not only looked odd but also ferried an assortment of unexpected items ashore—deadly sea snakes, giant spiders, whole trees, logs, and even half a cow. A dog needed rescue from the foam, and authorities warned locals and tourists to stay away from the water for safety.

6 Unidentified Carcass

In February 2020, a mysterious carcass washed up on a Mexican beach at Destiladeras, Jalisco, sparking speculation that it might be a dolphin. However, its lack of eyes and unusually long, curved teeth set it apart from typical dolphin dentition.

Some suggested the creature could be an eel, noting its lower body lacked fins and flukes and was far narrower than a dolphin’s. Yet fishermen and locals could not reach a consensus on its identity.

The absence of eyes hinted the animal might have originated from deep waters—perhaps the 1,000‑metre‑deep zone off Puerto Vallarta—but no one could explain how such a deep‑sea inhabitant could be carried to shore.

5 Decapitated “Corpse”

During a beach cleanup at Perdido Bay in November 2020, a volunteer known only as Kathleen stumbled upon more than ordinary debris. She uncovered a headless, barnacle‑covered figure, which she promptly reported to Ocean Hour, the nonprofit she was assisting.

Although the object resembled a human corpse at first glance, authorities later identified it as a mannequin. Its origin and the length of time it spent submerged remain unresolved mysteries.

4 Sea Pork

A strange mass appeared on the sands of Urangan Beach in Hervey Bay, Queensland, in February 2020. The specimen showed discernible eyes, a mouth, and part of a head, prompting a Facebook post from the discoverer seeking identification. Commenters ruled out stonefish due to its smooth skin, unlike the rough texture of stonefish.

Speculation ranged from soft coral and ambergris to shark excrement and even a whale placenta. Professor Sandie Degnan of the University of Queensland’s School of Biological Sciences suggested the mass was likely a sea pork—a type of sea squirt related to cunjevois, known for squirting water. Fishermen often eviscerate these creatures and use their guts as bait.

3 Hoodwinker

Witnesses described the creature as an enormous floating head, complete with fins. The sighting occurred on 19 February 2019 when the animal washed ashore at Coal Oil Point Reserve near Santa Barbara, California. Conservationist Jessica Nielsen posted photos on the reserve’s Facebook page, catching the eye of UC Santa Barbara professor Thomas Turner, who also documented it on iNaturalist.

In Australia, marine scientist Marianne Nyegaard was alerted to the find and suspected it to be a fish she had previously named the hoodwinker. Genetic testing confirmed the specimen as Mola tecta, a species of sunfish. These fish can reach eight feet in length and weigh several thousand pounds.

The appearance of a hoodwinker on a Californian beach puzzled researchers, as they are rarely seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Possible explanations include stray migration, climate‑driven ocean warming, or shifts in currents that moved their jellyfish prey northward, prompting the fish to follow. The mystery remains unresolved.

2 Worm Casings

The delicate tubes resemble icy twigs, yet they are not plant material. Known as tube worm casings, they are the discarded shells of cellophane worms (Spichaetopterus costarum) that wash up on Oregon’s coastline. Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium explains that these worms live just below the low‑tide line, building sand‑encrusted tubes that surf, currents, and upwellings later dislodge and scatter.

CoastWatch’s Fawn Custer notes that the worms feel like hair and are always present, but certain conditions cause them to be unearthed and deposited onshore by wave action. The worms feed by sucking tiny particles through their tubes, which rise close to the sand surface. When the tubes detach, the worms secrete a goo that eventually hardens into a new tube.

1 “Sea Penis”

The priapulida, nicknamed the ‘sea penis’ for its phallic shape, ranks among the most bizarre marine creatures ever to strand on a beach. Named after the Greek god Priapus, who symbolizes male generative power, this unsegmented worm dwells on the ocean floor and is rarely encountered.

Australian freediver Josie Jones discovered one off Rye Front Beach in Victoria, noting that about 160 species of the worm inhabit the area beneath the pier. The worm’s resemblance to a penis becomes even more pronounced when it releases its eggs and sperm into the sea.

Jones shared a photo of the priapulida on Facebook, sparking a flurry of jokes, many of the sophomoric variety. Comedian Mark Normand even chimed in, quipping, “Ladies, if you aren’t satisfied at home, remember there are plenty of fish in the sea.”

The beach is one of those few places that practically everyone views in a positive light. However, this bright and fun destination is not immune from danger and darkness lurking beneath the surface.

More times than you might think, casual trips to the beach have quickly gone wrong—sometimes in shocking or tragic ways. For all you know, your favorite sandy hangout spot could have a dark secret history too.

Here are ten stories about beaches where horrifying things have gone down.

10 Wanda Beach

Like a good sister, 15-year-old Marianne Schmidt took her younger siblings to the beach one January day in 1965. Accompanied by her best friend and neighbor, Christine Sharrock, the group set out to Sydney, Australia’s Wanda Beach, for what should have been a nice afternoon.

It was a windy day, and the weather did not seem to be letting up. Schmidt and Sharrock eventually decided to go grab their bags so they could all head home. When walking toward the bags, Schmidt’s younger brother called out to ask why they were walking in the wrong direction. The girls just laughed this off and kept on walking.

They never returned. Their dead bodies were found next to each other after their families reported the disappearance to authorities. Despite setting a new Australian record for most people interviewed during an investigation, the case has never been conclusively solved. It is now the oldest case still under review by the New South Wales unsolved homicide unit.^[1]

9 Short Sands Beach

Thirty-five-year-old Rhonda Pattelena loved spending time at Short Sands Beach in Maine. The Bedford, Massachusetts, mother of three tried to visit her favorite spot each and every summer so she could pass the time enjoying the waves and feeling the sand between her toes.

She was probably very excited in March 2021 when she and her boyfriend Jeffrey Buchanan, a man she considered her “soulmate,” went out to take a walk along her beloved beach. But she never returned. Although he claims to have “blacked out” and not remember his actions, surveillance footage revealed that Buchanan brutally beat Pattelena to death with a large rock.

The crime shocked the community, as well as Pattelena’s loved ones. The town where she lost her life held a vigil for her at the scene of the crime as a way to “reclaim” the spot she always loved escaping to.^[2]

8 Cannon Beach

If you happened to drive past the picturesque shores of Cannon Beach, Oregon, you would definitely notice their intense beauty—but you probably would not realize they were haunted. Yes, as legend has it, the beaches near a particular area of U.S. Highway 101 are home to a mysterious ghostly apparition known as the “Bandage Man.”

Here’s how the story goes. When a young couple parked their truck along the waterfront back in the 1950s, they suddenly felt something aggressively shaking their vehicle from the outside. When they looked behind them, they spotted what appeared to be a man covered from head to toe in bloody bandages banging on their window and trying to get inside.

Naturally, the couple sped off as fast as they possibly could, and the figure disappeared behind them. Since then, others have reported similar encounters with the creepy mystery figure in this exact same spot—some even as recently as 2019.^[3]

7 Jaboatao dos Guararapes

Fifty-one-year-old Marcelo Rocha Santos was spending a pleasant afternoon at the beach with some friends in the eastern-Brazilian city of Jaboatao dos Guarararpes. During the outing, he suddenly realized he needed to use the bathroom. Finding no official restroom facilities in the area, both he and one of his friends decided to relieve themselves in the water.

This turned out to be a fatal mistake. In the middle of doing their business, an 8-foot (2.6-meter) tiger shark came out of nowhere and violently attacked Santos right in front of his friend. Santos attempted to fight off the shark, but it was no use. He quickly lost consciousness, and the water filled up with blood.

By the time his friends managed to pull his discarded body out of the water, large chunks of his arm and leg were missing. He was pronounced dead as soon as he arrived at a nearby hospital.^[4]

6 Hermosa Beach

In April 1954, a young couple was spending some time with their infant son at California’s Hermosa Beach when things took a sudden and very dark turn. A large wave came crashing toward them without warning and whisked the helpless baby away.

Distraught and unable to locate their child, Mr. and Mrs. McDonald clutched each other tightly—trying to process the horror of what had just happened to them. Tragically, the couple tried to think of anything they could possibly do to save their child but ultimately had to just wait in agony until the poor kid’s dead body washed up on shore later in the day.

But the story does not end there. Unbeknownst to the couple, a neighborhood resident who overheard the whole commotion happened to be a photographer for The Los Angeles Times. Realizing something important was happening, he instinctively snapped a photo and eerily captured the couple’s most desperate moment for the entire world to see. The photo was so poignant that it won a Pulitzer Prize for its taker, John Gaunt.^[5]

5 Fort Lauderdale

South Florida’s beaches are among the most popular in the world—but they, too, have been touched by tragedy. Passersby took notice in June 2012 when a massive yacht washed up on the shores of a Fort Lauderdale beach with no one on board.

It was not long before people realized that the yacht belonged to well-known Brazilian oil tycoon and philanthropist Guma Aguiar. Upon inspection of the vessel, no blood was found nor any other trace of his remains. Subsequent searches could not determine his whereabouts, and he was eventually assumed to be dead.

Nevertheless, the story still gets stranger. In the months following Aguiar’s disappearance, a conspiracy theory arose claiming that he was still alive and hiding out in the Netherlands. One of the individuals who floated this possibility in public was the lawyer of Aguiar’s own wife.^[6]

4 Huntington Beach

If you spent any time hanging around the shores of Huntington Beach, California, in 1968, you might have noticed a group of teenagers playing music and wearing colorful attire. Given the hippy counterculture of the time, you might not have batted an eye at this seemingly-harmless sight.

But appearances can be deceiving. These casual waterside concerts were actually part of a concerted recruitment effort by a dangerous cult called “Teens for Christ.” The goal of these sessions was to lure unsuspecting beachgoers to visit their “Light Club” facility just off the pier, where they would be made into members of the group.

Within a few years, “Teens for Christ” became “Children of God”—a group now remembered for its leader’s egregious treatment of his followers. This treatment included sexual abuse, violence, incest, and brainwashing.^[1]

3 Cheviot Beach

World leaders are probably the most surveilled and carefully guarded human beings on the planet—which makes the story of Harold Holt all the more baffling. Holt was the sitting Prime Minister of Australia in December 1967 when he decided to go for a swim on a beach near Melbourne.

At some point during this swim, Holt disappeared—and was never seen again. To this day, despite very intense searches, his remains have never been found. The only trace of him ever having been there was the pile of clothes he left behind on the shore.

In the years and decades since his disappearance, many theories have been proposed to explain the baffling mystery. Some of the ideas proposed have ranged from suicide to a freak accident to an international hit job.^[8]

2 Gilgo Beach

When Long Island police received a frantic 9-1-1 call from Shannan Gilbert in 2010 claiming that someone was trying to kill her, they had no idea what had just hit them. The search for Gilbert led investigators to discover the bodies of four deceased women, all of whom had been wrapped in fabric and discarded in an area along the Gilgo Beach coast.

It soon became clear that all these women, including Gilbert, had been working as escorts on the Craigslist website. Soon after, the remains of as many as 16 victims were discovered within this same stretch, revealing that a serial killer had been luring victims to the area for nearly two decades before anyone caught on.

Despite ten years passing since the discovery of the bodies, authorities have still never charged any suspect with the crimes, and the identity of the serial killer remains unknown.^[9]

1 Somerton Beach

In December 1948, two passersby spotted a well-dressed middle-aged man lying face-up on the beach in Adelaide, Australia. Sensing that something was not right, they approached and discovered that the man was deceased. The man had no I.D. on him, and his body showed no signs of foul play.

In an effort to find clues about his identity, investigators found a small, rolled-up fragment of paper with the words “Tamam Shud” written on it. These words mean “the end” in Persian and are a quote from the 11th-century poem “The Rubaiyat.”

For years, the identity of the man remained uncovered. However, recent DNA tests may have shed light on this decades-old mystery. Many concerned scientists and researchers have tried their hand at cracking the mystery but have not succeeded until recently. Rumors about his identity abounded, from a Russian spy or a jilted lover poisoned by his paramour to a smuggler or a former ballet dancer. In 2022, it is now believed that the unknown “Somerton Man” was an electrical engineer from Melbourne, Carl “Charles” Webb.^[10]

After ocean swimming was popularized in Victorian Britain as a health activity, beaches transitioned from places where people worked or foraged to places of recreation and enjoyment. Today, beaches are regularly featured in picture-postcard images as idyllic places of coconut palms, white sand, pretty girls in bikinis, kitesurfers getting big air, and surfers riding perfect waves, not dangerous places to be avoided.

Millions of people worldwide enjoy beaches during their holidays and for recreational opportunities on a daily basis, including surfing, swimming, fishing, sunbathing, shell-collecting, running, dog-walking, clamming, sleeping, counting sand grains, and dozens of other activities.

But beaches have another side—one that can be both sinister and downright dangerous. Here are 10 of the world’s most dangerous beaches.!

10 Second Beach, Port St. Johns, Transkei Coast of South Africa

Second Beach at Port St. Johns is an otherwise pleasant holiday destination on the magnificent Transkei coast of South Africa. Families have taken their holidays here for decades. However, in recent years Second Beach has acquired the reputation as the most dangerous beach in South Africa.

With eight fatal shark attacks in five years on surfers and swimmers, Second Beach may well be the most dangerous beach in the world for sharks.

The species claimed to be responsible for the fatal incidents at Second Beach is the Zambezi shark, known as a Bull shark in other parts of the world. Bull sharks can grow to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and have a reputation for aggressive behavior. They are known to take a bite out of almost anything they find in the water, much like Tiger sharks.^[1]

9 New Smyrna Beach, Florida, USA

Also near the top of the list for shark attacks is New Smyrna Beach, located in Volusia County, Florida, USA. New Smyrna is a popular state-administered beach with plenty of parking. It has a high number of surfers and ocean swimmers year-round, with an average of 9 shark bites per year.

When seasonal schools of juvenile fish swim northward along the Florida coast in an annual migration involving millions of animals, they are followed by a multitude of predators, among them sea birds and sharks.

Fortunately, most of the sharks following the schools of baitfish at New Smyrna are also juveniles of 2 meters (6 feet) in length or less, with the vast majority of bites non-fatal, unlike human encounters with bigger sharks elsewhere.^[2]

8 Boa Viagem Beach, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Also high on the list of dangerous beaches due to shark activity is Boa Viagem in Recife, in the tropical state of Pernambuco in northeast Brazil. Boa Viagem is a very popular beach in the center of Recife, a city of two million people. And many of them embrace beach culture and participate in many beach activities year-round, like surfing and swimming.

There have been over 50 shark attacks recorded in the past 20 years at this beach, many of them fatal. As a result, Boa Viagem has actually banned surfing and swimming in water more than one meter (39 inches) deep since 1999.

Lifeguards undergo special training to deal with shark injuries, and most of the incidents have been attributed to Bull and Tiger sharks, both large sharks known to be aggressive species.

Despite years of discussion among experts on a path forward to reduce the number of shark incidents at Boa Viagem, there is no clear plan other than to keep people out of the water.^[3]

7 Sandy Beach, O’ahu Hawaii, USA

Sandy Beach, on the southeast Ka’iwi Coast of the island of O’ahu, is known to locals as “Broke Neck Beach” due to the powerful shore-break waves and the large number of injuries inflicted on both visitors and locals by these powerful waves. Sandy Beach receives almost constant ocean swell from the northeast trade winds, short-period waves that break into hollow, powerful tubes on a steep, sandy beach. Sandy’s is well-known for its great body surfing and bodyboarding conditions and attracts many locals and visitors year-round.

The powerful waves dump surfers onto the shallow sandbar in awkward positions, even experienced bodysurfers, resulting in many injuries. Most are simply bruises or scrapes, but some incidents are very serious, like broken necks, pelvic bones, and spinal cord injuries.

Sandy Beach has some of the best trained and most experienced lifeguards in the city and county of the Honolulu system, as they are often called upon to use their rescue training and first-aid skills in real-life emergency situations.^[4]

6 Makua Beach, Haena, Kauai, Hawaii, USA

Makua Beach, also known as “Tunnels Beach” after the offshore surfing spot, is the beach where 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton paddled out on her surfboard to catch a few waves with friends on a sunny day in late October 2013.

After one particular wave, she was paddling back out to the takeoff spot when a large Tiger shark, estimated at 4 meters (12 feet), rose from the depths and bit off her left arm cleanly at the shoulder.

The shocking shark encounter wasn’t the first at this beach, which was well-known for large Tiger sharks for years among the people who regularly surfed there. However, it was by far the most famous. The attack and international media coverage made Hamilton an international celebrity as the “Shark Girl.”

Quick action by her friends to control blood loss and treatment at a nearby hospital by capable medical personnel saved her life that morning. Hamilton has gone on to become a top female professional surfer, as well as a wife and mother with a book and a film about her life after the attack.^[5]

5 Esperance, Western Australia, Australia

By all measures, the town of Esperance in the southwest of Western Australia is an idyllic place to live, work, and raise a family. There are beautiful white sand beaches and perfect surfing waves in the Indian Ocean. Nearly everyone has a job or a hobby related to the sea. Ocean-centered activities are central to both work and play and enjoyed by everyone, from residents to a small but economically important visitor industry.

With three fatal shark attacks in just three years on surfers and divers, the bonds of family and friendship have been stretched and, in some cases, irreparably broken in this close-knit community. With all three attacks attributed to Great White sharks, many people in the community have been calling for a mitigation strategy, from shark nets to motion-sensor drumlines to outright culling of problem sharks.

Pending further research and available funding, government response is so far limited to an official warning to stay out of the water when sharks are present.^[6]

4 Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan

Before 2011, the beach in front of the nuclear plant at Okuma was a popular surfing area frequented by surfers, fishermen, and other beachgoers.

On March 11, 2011, the area was rocked by a massive offshore earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, the largest earthquake ever recorded in this earthquake-prone country. The massive Tohoku quake generated a series of tsunami waves that rushed inland over a wide area of the region, inundating everything in their path of destruction.

In the path of the tsunami waves was the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) nuclear power station at Okuma, in Fukushima Prefecture, located immediately behind the beach. One of the massive waves, estimated at over 15 meters (50 feet), breached the protective concrete wall around the reactors and flooded the diesel generators supplying cooling water to them. This precipitated a partial meltdown of the reactor cores and a release of radioactivity into the atmosphere.

Ten years after the earthquake and nuclear disaster, the entire area around the TEPCO reactors is still an exclusion zone. There are no surfers, fishermen, or other beachgoers allowed in the area as radioactive water from the crippled reactors is slowly being released into the Pacific Ocean. The area is likely to remain an exclusion zone for decades to come.^[7]

3 Imperial Beach, California, USA

Imperial Beach is an otherwise pleasant beach town south of San Diego in California, approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) north of the international border with Mexico. Long popular with surfers for consistent and powerful waves, Imperial Beach also hosts many fishermen and other beachgoers who enjoy the Pacific Ocean as residents or visitors.

What has made the town and its beachfront infamous in recent decades is not located in the town itself, nor even in the United States.

There is a massive wastewater treatment plant just over the border in Mexico that handles all the wastewater from the city of Tijuana, an urban metropolis of over two million people, which has seen a huge increase in population since the 1950s. The plant is, by all estimates, far over the capacity for which it was designed, and colossal amounts of raw sewage and industrial pollutants are regularly discharged into the Pacific Ocean.

Prevailing ocean currents in the area flow from south to north, carrying as much as 140 million liters (35 million gallons) per day of toxic effluent across the international border and into Imperial Beach, the first populated area north of the border. Town officials regularly post warnings not to go into the water. However, there is little they can do to control or eliminate the discharge of the noxious discharge affecting their beaches, as it takes place in another country.

To alleviate a portion of the obvious public health hazard, regardless of the source, funding has been allocated, and steps are being taken to divert and treat some of the Mexican wastewater in the U.S. before discharge.^[8]

2 Trois Bassins, Réunion Island, French Territory

The beautiful and tres chic French island of Réunion in the Indian Ocean has seen a plague of shark activity since 2011. There have been 19 shark incidents, leaving seven people dead. The incidents have devastated the island’s vital tourism industry. Many surfers have since left the island, relocating to mainland France or Australia, as surfing anywhere in Réunion has become too dangerous.

Several cause and effect hypotheses have been presented for the large increase in shark attacks in Réunion, most of which have occurred on the west coast of the island and have been attributed to a rise in the number of aggressive Bull and TIger sharks.

Previous to 2011, the west coast saw few, if any, shark incidents. None of the cause and effect hypotheses to explain the increase in shark numbers and activity since 2011, such as a no-take zone established on the west coast, have been proven to any degree of scientific certainty. Several solutions have been tried by local authorities to mitigate the shark problem, from the culling of large sharks to shark nets to banning surfing anywhere on the island, also with limited effectiveness.

Surfing, bodyboarding, and ocean swimming in Réunion remain high-risk activities.^[9]

1 Nanwan, Kenting, Pingtung Country, Taiwan ROC

Nanwan is a tourist town located in the Kenting area of southern Taiwan. With many hotels and restaurants in the area, it is extremely popular with people from all over the island for their vacations. There is a very nice sand beach at Nanwan with every sort of beach amenity available for sale or rent—umbrellas, parasailing rides, inner tubes, food, drink, jet skis, massage, beach toys for children, surfboards. You name it, and someone will sell or rent it.

Nanwan can be extremely crowded, and one of the dangerous factors at this beach is from the completely unregulated use of jet skis and other watercraft, as they regularly race up and down directly offshore in close proximity to swimmers. In addition, most of the visitors to the beach at Nanwan have very little if any “ocean sense,” wave experience, or swimming ability, leading to many unfortunate drownings—even in a calm sea with no waves or other ocean hazards.

Another danger factor is that Nanwan is well-positioned to receive ocean groundswell from seasonal typhoons, which makes for good surfing conditions but is very dangerous for many tourist beachgoers. Many of the people at this beach have no experience with ocean waves at all, and the presence of large, powerful groundswell waves often leads to more unfortunate drownings.^[10]

Unfortunately, there are beaches that don’t measure up to our fantasies. Some of the beaches on today’s list are unpleasant places. They get bad press for good reason. 

This topic was suggested by TopTenz fan, dustinsmith93. Thanks, Dustin!

10. Henderson Island, Pitcairn Islands Group, British Overseas Territories

If visiting a beach that’s polluted by a whopping 18 tons of plastic sounds good to you, you may want to plan an excursion to Henderson Island. This isolated island is uninhabited and it is home to sugar-sand beaches, which are unfortunately marred by the presence of plastics and other garbage from Japan, America, and a host of other nations. 

So, how does all of this trash arrive at Henderson Island, which is part of the Pitcairn Islands Groups, which is a British Overseas Territory? Well, Henderson Island, which is a notable marine reserve, has ended up with trash on — and buried inches under — the sands due to a strong ocean current known as the South Pacific gyre. 

This circular current sends debris from international seas directly onto Henderson Island’s shores. Every day 3,500 pieces of garbage end up on the shores.  

This island is at the halfway point between Peru and New Zealand. Right now, experts estimate that 38 million pieces of plastic are present on the island’s beaches. The hermit crabs of Henderson Island have taken to living in plastic containers and birds and other wildlife are consuming plastics. 

Back in the ’80s, the island was a pristine paradise, which earned a World Heritage Site designation, thanks to its unspoiled beauty.

9. Cabrillo Beach (Harbor-Facing Side), Los Angeles, USA

You’ll find Cabrillo Beach in Los Angeles. This beach should be an ideal place to frolic in the water and chill out on the sand, but pollution has made the harbor-facing side of this beach an unappealing destination for city residents and tourists. Cabrillo Beach’s harbor-facing side has the dubious distinction of being one of the USA’s dirtiest beaches. 

The beaches of California are prone to pollution from urban runoff that lands in the ocean, plus rusted septic and sewer systems. Decomposing algae and kelp also contribute to pollution problems. The section of Cabrillo Beach that faces the harbor of San Pedro is subject to all of these issues, and it’s been ranked as one of the most polluted beaches in the Golden State.

Interestingly, the oceanside section of Cabrillo Beach, San Pedro, is in good shape, pollution-wise. This is because the two sides of the beach are separated by a seawall, as well as a long pier. Sadly, the side facing the harbor is anything but pristine, in part because of icky human bacteria that enters the waters through a source that is currently unknown.

If you want to go swimming at Cabrillo Beach, stick to the oceanside area. If you want to swim at a beach that’s known for being one of the cleanest in the region, consider heading for Las Tunas County Beach in Malibu. 

8. Kamilo Beach, Hawaii, USA

This beach used to be stunning and relatively unspoiled. Now, Hawaii’s Kamilo Beach is saddled with two nicknames, “Plastic Beach” and “Trash Beach,” which speak volumes. This beach is off the beaten track and used to be a hidden gem for adventurous beach lovers, who were willing to take 4-wheel drive vehicles down an unpaved road to get there. 

Now, people visit Kamilo Beach to gawk at the astounding amount of garbage that is mixed in with the sand. Some come to help clean it up. The trash on this Hawaii beach really piles up and this trash comes from the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” This patch is a collection of marine litter that’s situated in the North Pacific Ocean. 

Kamilo Beach currents are unique and these currents push plenty of things onto the stores, including garbage, logs, and dead animals.

Logs aren’t so common on the shores these days, but an abundance of plastic arrives regularly. Ninety percent of the debris that washes up on the shores is composed of plastic. 

At Kamilo Beach, the sand is dotted with small pieces of bright plastics, many of which have faded a bit because of exposure to the elements. There are also bigger pieces of garbage, such as plastic vats. A lot of the garbage comes from the fishing industry. 

The beach looks terrible. It stands out for the wrong reasons. It’s beach that is a total downer.

7. Juhu Beach, Mumbai, India

Another extremely dirty beach is Juhu Beach in Mumbai, India. It’s mega-polluted. 

This beach isn’t part of an uninhabited island or tucked away in some out-of-the-way location. It’s part of an upscale Mumbai neighborhood where many Bollywood stars choose to live. While people are making a serious effort to clean up Juhu Beach, with some success, the pollution problem is major.

Pollution in the Arabian Sea is rising alarmingly, and an Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay report indicates that there may be more plastic than fish in the sea by the year 2050. According to the report, 50% of plastics that pollute the Arabian Sea have been generated in the past decade. Plastic usage is on the upswing and marine life (and beach-goers) are paying the price.

Hundreds of tons of trash have been removed from Juhu Beach, so it doesn’t look as bad as it used to, but the root issue that leads plastic and other garbage to wash up on the shores, which is rising pollution in the Arabian Sea, means that clean-up efforts will need to be aggressive and ongoing. 

Although the beach can look picturesque sometimes, particularly, after clean-ups, the waters are always intensely polluted.  

As of November 2019, the beach earns an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 at TripAdvisor. In November 2018, a reviewer described the beach’s waters as “black” due to pollution. In August of 2019, another visitor characterized the beach as a “disgrace” due to its overcrowding and general dirtiness.

People are valiantly trying to make this beach better, but it’s a 24/7 job which is an epic undertaking. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is now overseeing clean-up operations, and these operations are changing things for the better. Large machines are needed to get rid of the trash that collects on the beach in the morning.

People who visit the beach may not realize just how polluted the water is, since garbage that washes onto the beach is now being cleaned up faster than it once was. Visitors, and those considering visiting Juhu Beach in the future, do need to know the truth. 

Of course, there are concerned citizens who understand. Some of them are activists who are trying to turn things around.

6. Fujiazhuang Beach, Dalian, China

Do you want to share a beach with 50,000 other people? Probably not, right? This is what you’ll need to do if you decide to spend time at Fujiazhuang Beach in Dalian, China. 

Beaches may be nasty for an array of reasons, including crazy overcrowding. This beach is widely considered to be the most crowded stretch of sand in the world. Visitors are encouraged to avoid swimming if they have skin ailments, or eye diseases, or gastrointestinal problems. They are also supposed to avoid smoking, spitting, and littering. 

Will several tens of thousands of visitors follow all of these instructions? You know the answer.

So, why do people keep flocking to this beach? What is the attraction? Well, it’s a scenic pebble beach. It’s a pretty place, really. 

The overcrowding is worst in summer. During spring, there is a lot more space to move around and enjoy the pretty locale. Unfortunately, the beach is polluted year-round. Food packaging and plastic waste are generated by all of the beach-goers.

This beach also gets a 3.5/5 rating at TripAdvisor (as of November 2019). Some extroverts enjoy the fact that so many people visit the beach during the high season, because it’s a socially vibrant environment, but others hate the overcrowding. People who gave Fujiazhuang Beach poor reviews commented on the fact that the beach’s pebbles were painful to walk on, noted the unpleasant pollution, and remarked that it was hard to see the water because of all of the people.

5. Villa Angela State Park, Ohio, USA

Villa Angela State Park is home to Villa Angela beach, which is connected to Euclid Beach. These beaches are known for having high bacteria levels in their waters. Unfortunately, the bacteria levels tend to stay high, rather than plummeting sometimes. Villa Angela State Park beach and its adjacent Euclid Beach are often unsafe to swim at. 

Some of us expect American beaches to be safer than some international beaches, thanks to the Clean Water Act, but this isn’t always the case. American beaches may be filled with human fecal matter, or other nasty contaminants, just like beaches in undeveloped nations, or beaches in other countries that are developed. 

USA residents, and tourists who visit American destinations, need to understand that American beaches can be hazardous sometimes — or all of the time. Anyone who wants the inside scoop on a beach’s safety should look for official reports before visiting and, especially, before swimming or wading.

So, what’s in the water at Villa Angela State Park in Ohio? Well, this state park’s beach is often filled with fecal matter that contaminates the water and may trigger respiratory illnesses, ear infections, intestinal distress, eye infections, and skin rashes. The main beach at the park is 900 feet in length and it’s a pretty place to be, but the waters are dirty, which is actually the case with many Ohio state beaches.

4. Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia

Beaches situated near this Victoria, Australia bay are places where roughly 800 million pieces of garbage flow into the waters yearly, via a couple of rivers. The situation at Port Phillip Bay beaches highlights the damage that pollution is doing to Melbourne’s coastline. Most of the pollution is plastic garbage, which surges into the bay and threatens the survival of marine life.

Microplastics in the water are a huge issue. These types of plastics are smaller in size than a typical fingernail. Plastic bags also end up in Port Phillip Bay waters. Feces contamination is also sometimes a problem at Port Phillip Bay beaches. Usually, flash flooding is the cause of high contamination from feces.

Port Phillip is home to a lot of beaches, which are generally long, flat, and shallow. These beaches are quite popular with tourists, because they offer gentle conditions for swimming. These beaches aren’t surfing beaches with big, rough waves. 

Unfortunately, some tourists don’t know about all of the pollution in Port Phillip Bay. Popular beaches in this region include Dromana Beach, Sandringham Beach, St. Kilda Beach and Brighton Beach. Some of these beaches fail water quality tests on the regular.

3. Guanabara Bay Beaches, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Guanabara Bay Beaches in Rio land on most lists of the world’s most polluted beaches, including this list. The problem is the untreated human waste that pollutes the water. 

When it comes to swimming in the waters of Guanabara Bay Beaches, strongly reconsider, as local neighborhoods are very short on sanitation, which means that water conditions are terrible, and that nasty microorganisms, and raw sewage, are rife within the water. 

Some people who do swim at Guanabara Bay Beaches live to regret it, because they experience skin irritations and stomach problems afterwards. Athletes, including Olympic rowers, take pains to avoid splashing the bay’s waters on themselves or others. They also disinfect with sanitizing products while they are in their boats. 

A beach shouldn’t make you sick. This beach very well might.

Exposure to pathogens from raw sewage from millions of Rio residents is just the beginning. At this beach, the water is also polluted by industrial waste. There are tons of refineries, pharmaceutical factories and oil and gas operations in the region. A huge amount of industrial wastewater ends up in the bay daily.

These beaches may look beautiful, but they have a dark side that local residents and tourists need to be aware of. If you’re going to hang out at these beaches, maybe don’t go in the water. Stick to a little people-watching and sun-bathing on the sand.

2. Freedom Island, Manila, Philippines

You may not want to load a beach tote or knapsack with towels, sunscreen, the latest juicy, best-selling novel, and drinks, and then head out for a day at the beach at Freedom Island, Manila, Philippines. Freedom Island’s sands are basically buried under piles of trash. 

The Philippines is known for being a big generator of ocean plastic pollution and the garbage dump that Freedom Island has become is testament to the fact that the Philippines needs to reduce ocean plastic pollution as soon as possible. 

The buildup of plastic waste is linked with the development of the sachet packaging craze in the Philippines. Sachets are plastic pouches which are fortified with aluminum layers that provide durability and shape. If you’ve opened a package of ketchup and squeezed the contents onto your french fries, you’ve used a sachet. 

Sachets make life easier for Philippines residents, but this ease and convenience comes with a very heavy environmental price.

This Metro Manila beach is covered in plastic pollution. It’s really pretty horrible.

When waves are vomiting refuse onto the shores, and beaches turn into landfills, we should all be alarmed. It’s happening all over the world, including on Freedom Island.

1. El Gringo Beach, Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic

When a beach earns the unofficial title, “Dominican Chernobyl,” it’s a clear sign that the condition of the beach isn’t exactly safe or inspiring. El Gringo Beach in DR is remarkably filthy and some of its pollution is dangerous, hence its worrisome nickname. 

People who visit El Gringo Beach need to worry about plastic pollution, as well as toxic levels of lead in the soil and sand. The lead comes from an illegal car battery recycling smelter. The car batteries recycled contained lead-acid. That smelter is now abandoned, but activities there caused significant environmental damage.

Those who go to this beach also have to be concerned with other forms of industrial waste that land in the waters and on the shores. Examples of toxins found the Bajos de Haina beach include the aforementioned lead, plus ammonium, formaldehyde, and sulfuric acid. These toxins are generated by oil refineries, manufacturing plants, and power plants in the region.

A non-profit organization called the Blacksmith Institute considers Bajos de Haina, which is home to El Gringo Beach, to be one of the most polluted areas of the planet. Toxins in the area are present in sand, soil, and water, and some of these toxins are also airborne.

Suffice is to say that El Gringo Beach isn’t the ideal location for a leisurely family beach picnic. It’s not the nicest place to go for a dip, either.