Myrtle Beach Water Color & Quality
Taking a dip in beautiful, clear Myrtle Beach waters along the shore has little to do with luck and a lot to do with weather patterns. The shoreline colors can range from a striking turquoise blue to a neutral brown shade throughout the year. Atmospheric changes, wind, and storms all play roles in the water’s color and clarity in Myrtle Beach.
Whatever shimmering hue you see, there’s no ignoring the ocean when you’re in Myrtle Beach for vacation. Everyone looks forward to kicking back on an oceanfront hotel room balcony to enjoy the view, and lounging on the sand tops nearly everyone’s to-do list. Some of the best photo spots in Myrtle Beach include the ocean, and the snapshots of this year’s brilliant water coloring inspired many to plan vacations to this beachy destination. Book your oceanfront hotel in Myrtle Beach to see how stunning the endless horizon and tranquil waves are in any hue.
The changes in the ocean’s coloring along the Grand Strand always prompt visitors to wonder what causes the water to take on a blue or brown hue. Here are answers to the most common Myrtle Beach water quality and color questions:
Frequently Asked Questions
The changes in the ocean’s coloring along the Grand Strand always prompt visitors to wonder what causes the water to take on a blue or brown hue. Here are answers to the most common Myrtle Beach water quality and color questions:
Does Myrtle Beach have clear water?
Myrtle Beach water is stunningly clear when the Atlantic Ocean remains calm long enough for sediments to settle to the ocean floor; the water appears most cloudy during and after weather events with high offshore winds.
Why doesn’t the Myrtle Beach water appear blue?
The waters along the Myrtle Beach shoreline do not always appear as blue as in other tropical destinations because the ocean here experiences more frequent atmospheric pressure changes and tropical storms than sheltered Caribbean locales; these weather events stir organisms and sand particles into the clear Myrtle Beach water, giving it a brownish hue.
Are there bacteria in the ocean at Myrtle Beach?
Microbes are everywhere, including in the ocean at Myrtle Beach, but diligent water quality testing scrutinizes bacteria levels during the Grand Strand’s swimming season. Sampling occurs at more than 100 locations along the coast and if unsafe bacteria levels are found, an advisory is issued. Elevated results are often short-lived (and usually triggered by heavy rainfall and runoff), so your favorite beach won’t be off-limits during your entire vacation, if it is at all.
