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BEACH DRIVING
Daytona has 23 miles of hard-packed beautiful beaches.
A parade of vehicles constantly
cruises up and down Daytona Beach. Always maintain beach-driving etiquette and
watch out for pedestrians. The speed limit on the beach is 10 m.p.h. and is
strictly enforced. Daily beach driving passes are $5.00 per vehicle, February 1
through November 30. After 3 p.m. daily passes are $3.00.
Among the biggest changes greeting beach visitors is the new, vehicle-free
section of the beach. This mile-long, family-friendly area
is from International Speedway Boulevard (U.S. 92), north to Seabreeze Boulevard
(S.R. 430). A parking garage is conveniently located north of the Ocean
Center, just 1/2 block west of A1A The parking rate is $1 per 30 minutes with a
maximum daily charge of $5.00 per day.
Free Beach Trams transport beachgoers from the garage to this new traffic-free
beach zone. Look for tram stop signs along the beach, at Ocean Avenue and
at the garage for pick up. The Beach Tram
operates from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily but operates on the beach only during
daylight hours.
BEACH REGULATIONS
Always swim directly in front of a
Lifeguard, and keep an eye on small children. Remember, the lifeguards can't
baby-sit while watching over a large area.
The 10 mph speed limit is strictly enforced.
Violators will be fined $41 and up. Alcohol, pets,
open containers and glass containers are not allowed on the beach or in public
places. (parks, streets, sidewalks) If you are drinking on a hotel pool deck,
please stay there.
Music or noise which can be heard from more
than 50 feet of the source is illegal.
It is illegal to disturb dune vegetation.
Driving or parking in the conservation zone is
prohibited and is clearly marked by the large posts.
Avoid walking on the dunes along the beach. Please Don't litter. Cigarette butts, fishing
line and other trash can harm the animals and birds along the beach.
LIFEGUARDS
The County's Lifeguard Corps play an
important role in keeping beachgoers safe. County Lifeguards make about 3,000
ocean rescues each year!
Lifeguard responsibilities include water rescue of swimmers and surfers, boater
rescue up to three miles offshore, missing persons and related emergencies.
Volusia County Lifeguards also handle enforcement of beach laws and regulations
related to beach and water use.
Lifeguard towers are strategically
stationed along the beach year-round for the safety of our residents and guests.
Please swim near posted lifeguards, and make yourself aware of current surf
situations. If the surf is choppy or large, don't venture out in water past
waist-deep.
Rip currents are caused by rough surf that makes cuts in the sandbars running
parallel to the shore. They can be unpredictable and dangerous. If you get
caught in a rip current, don't panic. Swim parallel to shore until the
current weakens, then swim back to shore.
Be aware that, during the summer, the tower lifeguards will be on duty from 9:30
a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
If you have a question, any beach patrol employee will be
happy to help you ! SURFING
The Daytona Beach coastal area has many spots suitable for
surfing, and you'll
find the best swells just south of Daytona Beach at Ponce Inlet. Both the north
and south sides are favorites with the locals. In Daytona, the waves average 3
feet in height. Just remember that surfing is not allowed within 300 feet of any
pier at any time. You can surf here year round. In the summer, surf
temperatures range from 75 - 82 degrees. Between December and February, the
water temperature seldom dips below 58 degrees. TIDES
The beach expands up to 500 feet wide at low tide! If you
want to visit the beach at LOW tide, check out this site to find out when that
is !
www.harbortides.com TURTLES
Humans aren’t the only creatures
that like Daytona Beach and surrounding environs. Endangered loggerhead sea
turtles find the stretch of sand a fine place to incubate the next generation of
their species.
Between mid-April and Halloween, the animals crawl from the surf at night to lay
their eggs in sandy nests. Two months later, hundreds of cute hatchlings emerge
and scramble back to their watery home.
To help protect the species, Volusia County regulates beach driving and parking.
No vehicles are allowed landward of the dune conservation zone, the preferred
nesting area. Night driving is restricted. So are lights from beachfront homes
and businesses, because they confuse the mother turtles and the babies.
Interference with a nesting attempt may
constitute a violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, which protects all
sea turtles from harm and harassment. People walking on the beach at night
should strictly limit their use of flashlights, which can be highly disruptive
to turtles. Anyone who observes a turtle coming ashore to nest should stand back
at least 30 to 40 feet. Anyone who sees a turtle come ashore in the daytime or
where people are gathered is encouraged to call the Sheriff's Office at (386) 254-4689.
BE SUN SMART!
At the beach, you get direct sun and
reflected rays from the ocean and our beautiful white sand. It doesn’t take
long to sunburn. Sometimes a day at the beach can be too
much of a good thing, so be sure to protect yourself from the sun! During the
summer months, the sun's rays are strongest between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2
p.m.
Use a sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15
or higher. (Ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays are considered "burning
rays" and are
responsible for skin sunburns. But Ultraviolet-A (UVA) rays penetrate deeply
into the skin, causing permanent damage that leads to a wrinkled, leathery skin appearance.)
Apply the lotion 30 to 60 minutes before going in the sun, then re-apply
sunscreen generously especially after swimming or toweling off. Use a higher SPF
on nose, ears, lips and around eyes.
Keep infants out of the sun and don't use sunscreen on infants under 6 months
old. Use umbrellas and wear wide brimmed hats.
Clouds filter some but not most of the ultraviolet radiation,
so it's still possible to get burned on a cloudy day.Make
sure to drink plenty of water !
LIVE BEACH CAMS
Daytona
Beach Cam A view of Daytona Beach
brought to you by Volusia County Government. Updates every 60 seconds.
EarthCam:
Daytona Beach Cam Check out the
hottest spot on Daytona Beach, Florida from a
webcam placed in a lifeguard station.
Ocean
View Cam.com
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