Overview

Opal Beach is located in the protected Gulf Islands National Seashore area, on Santa Rosa Island, between Pensacola Beach and Navarre. Named after Hurricane Opal (1995) which devastated the area, this beach offers a wild and preserved setting. The white quartz sand and emerald waters are exceptional. It is one of the most natural spots in the Panhandle.

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Spot forecast for Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island

Sunrise 06:53 · Sunset 18:11

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 3 km from the spot.

Tuesday 20 October High tide 03:04 · 0.6 m Low tide 14:47 · 0.3 m
Wednesday 21 October High tide 06:07 · 0.5 m Low tide 13:56 · 0.3 m High tide 21:46 · 0.4 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 00:28 · 0.4 m High tide 07:24 · 0.5 m Low tide 14:00 · 0.4 m High tide 20:16 · 0.5 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 02:05 · 0.4 m High tide 08:51 · 0.5 m Low tide 14:03 · 0.4 m High tide 20:03 · 0.5 m
Saturday 24 October Low tide 03:16 · 0.3 m High tide 12:27 · 0.5 m Low tide 13:17 · 0.5 m High tide 20:58 · 0.6 m

Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

279h

in May · 29.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to July, peaking in May: 27 rideable days a month and 279 hours of usable wind, at 28 °C. The low point is November, at 13 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 84%13-20 knots · 15%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 84% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is January, at 15 °C. The wettest month is January, with 192 mm.

Monthly averages: Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island

Monthly averages — Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	14.0	126 h	15 °C	192 mm
February	16.5	120 h	20 °C	87 mm
March	23.5	198 h	21 °C	107 mm
April	26.5	263 h	24 °C	38 mm
May	29.5	279 h	29 °C	178 mm
June	27.5	228 h	31 °C	134 mm
July	27.5	182 h	33 °C	66 mm
August	21.0	149 h	33 °C	84 mm
September	21.5	144 h	30 °C	178 mm
October	19.0	135 h	27 °C	116 mm
November	13.0	109 h	23 °C	148 mm
December	14.5	100 h	18 °C	142 mm

Photo gallery of Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island

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Technical details of Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island spot

The spot works with winds from ENE, E, ESE, SE, SSE, S, SSW, SW, WSW, W.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Intermediate

On the water

Crystal-clear emerald Gulf of Mexico waters. Pristine white quartz sand bottom. Moderate waves facing south. Longshore drift current. Natural sandbars. Some of the clearest water in Florida.

Hazards

Protected National Seashore area — respect regulations. Isolated beach with little surveillance. Rip currents. Sharks and jellyfish. Limited access with restricted parking. Sea turtle nesting area.

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Live

Woodlawn Beach Middle School5.2 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

N5VIS5.6 km

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source CWOP / APRS-IS
GW4271 GULF BREEZE8.7 km

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source noaa

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Webcams near Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island

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Opal Beach / Santa Rosa Island kitesurf and wingfoil spot