Gulf Beaches For Swimming
 

Can anyone recommend any beaches on the Gulf good for swimming, as I am abit worried about the currents and undertow? <BR> <BR>Hope you don't think this question is too silly but is there anything dangerous in the sea here e.g sharks?

I enjoy the beaches stretching from Sarasota south to Naples, and particularly enjoy the state park beaches from south of Fort Myers Beach to the north edge of Naples, near the Ritz Carlton Hotel. <BR>I have two cousins in Naples in their 30s, who have swum from these beaches since they were tiny, and neither has been eaten by a shark. Have no fears, and enjoy yourself. <BR>No drownings, either. All in all, the entire stretch is a great place for a vacation. <BR>BAK

Be aware that stingrays love to sun themselves in the shallows of the gulf beaches. Swimming became a lot less appealing to me after I saw a dozen or so of those. And yes, they do tend to try to keep clear of people, but they also like to semi-bury themselves, at which point they blend in so well that it's hard to avoid stepping on them.

Nic...the Gulf is pretty calm and rarely do you have to worry about rip tides or undertow. The best of the beaches stretch a considerable distance from Clearwater down to Naples. <BR> <BR>In our 4 years living here (and we are beach people and sail as well, so are there often) I've seen a shark only once, and would have missed that one except that a fisherman about 100 yds off shore called our attention to it. It was in a remote area where there were no swimmers (we were running at the time). <BR> <BR>The stingray are present during the warmer months when they come in closer to shore to mate. During these months, anyone going into the water is advised to do the "stingray shuffle". Just scuffle your feet along the bottom, rather than picking them up. <BR> <BR>Our first year here, as we stood in waist deep water we found ourselves in the path of a huge "school" swimming toward us. It was too late for us to move, but as they swam by, they parted and though they were on all sides and between us, we were never touched. Their tails are the dangerous part and their defense...they won't try to get you with it--just don't step on them! <BR> <BR>We swam with them intentionally in the Caymans, feeding them, and even petting them. They'd swim right up our outstrecthed arms. It remains one of the highlights of our trip. <BR> <BR>

How about considering Destin, Grayton Beach, and others in that area? <BR>White sand, etc. But no beach is totally safe, even if these have low tides and moderate waves. There are various varmints, like Portuguese Men of War to bedevil us, particularly if a storm has churned up the water.

Bob...You have Portugese Men-o-War in the Panhandle?? I've never seen them anywhere on the Gulf Coast, only the Atlantic Coast and Caribbean. They are Gulf Stream critters primarily, thus the Atlantic Coast problems, as they get blown toward beach areas by onshore winds. Truly, between sailing and our love of the beach, we spend a lot of time on the water but I have never seen any around our area!

I second the vote for Grayton Beach - or the areas surrounding it - Blue Mountain or Seagrove. Just returned from a week in Seagrove, and it was perfect. I'd avoid Seaside which is between Blue Mountain and Seagrove - a bit too contrived for me.

Thanks for your responses. They've put my mind at rest.

p.s I forgot to ask before, but what is Florida like for watersports in November?, as my husband is quite keen to try some, maybe jet-skiing, water-skiing or sailing.