Beaches

The ocean beach is one of the main attractions of the Florida coast. The beach, along with the weather, is what brought so many people to our Cocoa Beach - Brevard County area - many initially as visitors who then eventually settled here.

Water Safety

As a visitor, there are things you will want to know about the beach. The beach and the ocean can always be enjoyed provided proper respect is paid and a certain degree of care is maintained. When you consider that a two-foot ocean wave can knock a 200 pound adult off his feet, you begin to get an idea of the power of the ocean.

Let's start with water safety - swimming in the ocean is one of the great free thrills in life. Screams of joy and laughter frequently accompany young children running in and out of the surf in front of oncoming waves. There are a number of places in Cocoa Beach where lifeguards provide watch and protection:

Lifeguards are on duty at these locations every weekend beginning on Easter weekend until Labor Day weekend.

There are 4 Lifeguard Stations in Cocoa Beach that operate year-round: Shepard Park, Lori Wilson Park, Minutemen Cswy and Cocoa Beach Pier. The ocean can still be enjoyed with the following cautions:

• Always swim where other people are swimming - never swim alone!

• If you are not a strong swimmer, do not swim when the waves are large or the conditions appear rough.

• Be aware of ocean currents and rip tides - if you are caught in a rip tide, swim parallel to the beach (go with the current) - do not try to swim against the current! The current generally flows parallel with the beach.

• If you need help, face the shore and wave your arms - usually someone is nearby with a surfboard.

Beach Etiquette

Having survived literally thousands of years of onslaught from the ravages of the ocean, one would think that the beach is indeed a hardy mass. Quite the opposite is true - the beach is a fragile and ever-changing ecological wonder that belong to all of us. It needs help from mankind - much of the help is in the form of activities that are prohibited by law. Still other help is in the form of the spirit of volunteerism.

The dunes, which are the mounds of sand on the landward side of the beach, are the barriers that protect properties from high tides and storm surges. Many of the dunes rely on vegetation to stay in place as both wind and sea work at relocating them. For this reason, there is one over-riding rule pertaining to the dunes: STAY OFF THE DUNES! It's the law in Cocoa Beach and in every other beach along the Atlantic Coast.

We ask that you enjoy the beach for what it is and leave only your footprints behind. And if you find that previous visitors have not been as courteous, your assistance in picking up the beach would be very much appreciated. It's an activity that most local beachgoers practice - you will then be mistaken for a local and that's a badge of honor! Here are other restrictions necessary to maintain our beautiful beaches:

• No Vehicles on the Beach - With the exception of emergency and public service vehicles, vehicles are not permitted on the beaches for any reason.

• No Trash - Some people, unfortunately, think of the beach as the world's largest ashtray - if you smoke, please do not leave cigarette butts behind.

• No Glass on the beach - Cocoa Beach is one of the few that allows alcohol on the beach but glass bottles are against the law.

• No Animals on the beach - not even on a leash! The penalty is a fine.

• No Fireworks on the beach - Fireworks are an ecological nightmare, they endanger other people and they cause fires in the dune vegetation. This, too, is against the law!

• No Fires on the beach without a permit - fires are allowed in certain areas of the City during certain times of the year. Contact the Cocoa Beach Fire Department for more information.

• Do Not Disturb Turtles, Turtle Nests or Turtle Hatchlings - Sea turtles are an endangered species, if you are lucky enough to see a turtle come ashore, give it very wide berth, do not shine a flashlight or use a flash camera.

• Do Not Push Stranded Marine Mammals Back to Sea - From time-to-time, large sea mammals such as whales, manatees and dolphins may beach themselves. They do this because they are in distress for one reason or another. If you happen onto the scene of a beaching, here's what to do: 1.) Call the Cocoa Beach Police Department (868-3251) and ask them to call Sea World; and 2.) Try to keep the mammal comfortable by pouring sea water over the exposed skin and keep it shielded from the suns rays by covering it with wet towels. Sea World will send a rescue team to remove it to the Sea World facility for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

• Avoid swimming where people are surfing - Surfers usually are found in areas where the waves peak. It is best to avoid swimming in areas where surfers are enjoying the waves.

• Surfcasting - Fishing from the beach, known as surfcasting, is a popular sport in Cocoa Beach. Year round, many varieties of fish may be caught from the beach. Florida residents are not required to obtain a fishing license for surfcasting. Non-residents age or older can obtain a three-day ($6.50), seven-day ($16.50) or annual ($31.50) license for saltwater fishing. Do not fish where people are swimming. Local fish species are quite accommodating - if you move down the beach to get away from swimmers, the fish will move with you!

Beach Clean Up

We are fortunate to have so many local people who recognize the importance of maintaining our beautiful beaches. Some perform this public service as part of their daily exercise - walking on the beach. Others have banded together to do periodic sweeps of the beach to pick up trash, cigarette butts, empty beverage cans and other remnants of the mankind.  They are part of an organization called Keep Brevard Beautiful (KBB) and they play an important part in keeping our beaches the premier attraction that they are for people all over the world.  Leave Only Your Footprints...

Visitors since July 1, 2003