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Okaloosa Island lifeguards complete season with no drownings, 29 rescues

Lifeguards on Okaloosa Island recorded zero drownings and 29 rescues during the 2025 beach season, which ended Oct. 31, the county announced Monday.
Photo courtesy of Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County announced the seasonal lifeguard results Monday. Lifeguards recorded zero drownings and 29 rescues during the 2025 season on Okaloosa Island.

  • Lifeguards conducted more than 800,000 educational and preventative contacts with beachgoers throughout the season. The beach census recorded 1,844,420 visitors to Okaloosa Island beaches during the 2025 season.

With the seasonal lifeguard season concluded, full-time lifeguard staff will shift to a response and patrol schedule from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beach flag text alerts will resume in the spring.

Information about the Beach Safety division and lifeguard employment opportunities is available at myokaloosa.com/ps/beach-safety.

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Community Comments

“I thought originally they were starting on at Reach 1 then moving to Reach 2? Has this changed?”
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“You forgot the Ice Cream Laboratory.”
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“It brings thousands of people and millions of dollars to the Destin economy and helps support the values of numerous properties paying local ad valorem taxes.”
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“Hey, Scott! I am delighted to hear your story! This is wonderful news!”
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“Interesting that west of the east pass can go ignored, the survey indicates that those beaches are critically eroded also.”
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Michael L. Cobb commented on WordroW: March 13, 2026
“3 min 42 sec”
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“I will never understand the logic behind spending millions on adding sand that will continue to wash out with every storm and if a storm hits us this year it’s...”
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“Wow...$10,000,000 for sand.”
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