Why is Crab Island so shallow?

As time went on, drifting sands from the Gulf of Mexico, with the help of the occasional hurricane, began to erode the spoil island. It eventually became what it is today: an underwater sandbar and popular place to anchor your boat. Today, the water is very shallow. The sandbar ranges from 1-4 feet deep in most places.



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You will experience the clear water about an hour before high tide and about 2 hours after high tide. The reason why it's so pretty is it's bringing clear water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Choctawhatchee Bay (which is where Crab Island is located). The months with the best times for high tide are May and June.

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Do not swim beyond Crab Island. “STAY ON THE ISLAND.” The current is very very dangerous. Sometimes on the island, it's strong enough you will need to brace yourself while standing.

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Yet, it is protected from the surf and waves that you would typically experience along the beach. With that in mind, our bay is “brackish” water which is fresh, salt water, giving it the brownish color. Our bay also has a river, creeks, and springs that feed into it as well as the salt water from the Gulf.

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Crab Island does not have restrooms. If you need to go to the bathroom, most people will releive themselves in the water or they ask a fellow boater for access to the restroom. If you have transportation, you can go back to the Harbor and use the restroom at one of the local restaurants.

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Rip Currents If someone is on the boat, lift the anchor and carefully maneuver to wherever the current is leading the swimmer, that way you can pick them up. Rip currents often occur close to sandbars so be aware of this when visiting Crab Island.

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Peak hours for Crab Island are in the afternoon and so kids and families are recommended to go on our early Crab Island cruise to avoid the heat and crowds. The 3-hour morning Crab Island cruise is great for families with small children or those who want to enjoy Crab Island before the afternoon heat settles in.

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Crab Island in Destin, Florida is a unique, can't-miss experience for anyone traveling to Florida's Gulf Coast. Just off the Destin bridge, Crab Island offers breathtaking views and warm, crystal clear water.

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You can think of it like the DoorDash of the water. They work with nearby local restaurants to pick up your food order and get it out to your boat on Crab Island. So now there is a larger variety of options than the few food vendors at Crab Island.

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The best time of year to go to Crab Island is during the summer months of May, June, July and August. This is when the water temperature is most comfortable for swimming and the vendors are out offering food, drinks, merchandise, and rentals. Summer is when the most tour and excursion boats are operating.

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Towards the end of July, jellyfish tend to arrive. They tend to come to Crab Island during high tide, if they are around. On the water remedies are: Pour vinegar directly onto the sting to avoid rubbing it.

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