Why is the water so green in Destin?

As for the water color, we owe that to harmless, sun reflecting micro-algae that are found in the shallow waters off of our beaches! Now that you know why our beaches and waters are so stunning and beautiful, come see the Emerald Coast for yourself!



People Also Ask

With such a magnificent color and the emerald-green waters, it's no wonder why Destin has been named as having some of the most beautiful beaches in the country.

MORE DETAILS

For the latest quarter assessed by the U.S. EPA (January 2021 - March 2021), tap water provided by this water utility was in compliance with federal health-based drinking water standards.

MORE DETAILS

Emerald Green Waters The Mississippi River flows into the Gulf, filtering the water with a constant clear stream. Microscopic plankton living in our waters produce chlorophyll, giving off a beautiful green hue when the sun's light hits the water.

MORE DETAILS

Clearest Water in Florida
  • The Florida Keys. The Florida Keys are the ultimate Florida boating destination for gin-clear water. ...
  • Jupiter. Jupiter is another one of Florida's amazing boating destinations with gin-clear water. ...
  • Destin. ...
  • Panama City Beach. ...
  • Freshwater Springs. ...
  • Miami. ...
  • Palm Beach. ...
  • Tampa.


MORE DETAILS

What gives the sand its signature white color is the tiny quartz particles that make it up. The process that formed the sand actually began more than 20,000 years ago! During this time, the Apalachicola River carried an abundance of water as the last Ice Age ended.

MORE DETAILS

During high tide, when the water is clear, this depends upon how fast or slow the tide is in between high/low tides. A general rule of thumb is 3-4 hours before and 2-3 hours after high tide.

MORE DETAILS

Many of Florida's beaches have shores with shallow waters, which often result in sandbars. When the sun reflects off the white ocean floor and the surrounding microscopic plankton, this creates the gradient effect of transparent, emerald, and azure waters.

MORE DETAILS

Destin's Sand Comes from the Mountains This might sound crazy, but ground quartz crystal is carried as residue in the water all the ways from Appalachia to Destin, and the Gulf of Mexico, via the Apalachicola River. This isn't a quick process, by any means.

MORE DETAILS

Destin Beach, Emerald Coast On the hunt for the absolute clearest waters of Florida? Then, Destin Beach is the place to go. This beach is located in a coastal area called the Emerald Coast, which stretches about 100 miles through five counties in the idyllic Gulf of Mexico.

MORE DETAILS