Central Florida beach rated 2nd most dangerous in America; 5 of top 10 in state
Aside from gorgeous sunrises and white-sand shores, Volusia County is also known as being home to one of the most dangerous beaches in America, according to recently released data.
Shark fans might immediately conclude it’s New Smyrna Beach due to its infamy as the Shark Bite Capital of the World. However, a reader-supported online publication, Outforia, identified Daytona Beach as the second most dangerous beach in America.
Outforia gave the Volusia beach a “danger score” of 7.18⁄10, listing crime rates as one of the reasons why and reporting 581 crimes in the Daytona area during from May to September of this year.
Beating it out on the list was Venice Beach, California with a danger score 7.19⁄10 and 630 crimes reported.
Daytona Beach wasn’t the only Florida beach to be called out. Siesta Beach on Siesta Key was No. 4 on the list with a score of 4.5 with at least one lightning fatality reported and its water pollution score receiving a 45.93⁄100. Although Ocean View Beach, Virginia was listed as the most polluted beach in America: 75⁄100.
On the list of 29 dangerous beaches, Florida made the list with 11 beaches identified. Joining Daytona Beach and Siesta Beach in the Top 10 were Deerfield Beach at No. 7, Belleair Beach at No. 8 and Hollywood Beach and No. 10. Others rated among all 29 include Miami Beach, Atlantic Beach, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Boynton Beach and Hillsborough Beach.
Among all beaches listed, Daytona Beach ranked the highest in reported shark attacks, listing 39 attacks. Outforia said it had more than any other beach.
Outforia cited the Global Shark Attack File, which actually documented 47 known attacks between 1947 and 2020.
The GSAF is a group of shark enthusiasts who record shark bites from the news, unlike the International Shark Attack File, which is made up of scientists, said Tyler Bowling, manager of the ISAF, which is based at the University of Florida.
“The difference between us and them is that we are scientists and thoroughly investigate all of these cases, interview victims, work with local authorities, and only make classifications that can be backed by evidence,” he said. “GSAF has gained popularity because their data is open access, while ours is subject to privacy laws because we are part of a state institution.”
The ISAF has routinely identified a different Volusia County beach for its notable shark bite count: New Smyrna Beach, which recorded eight cases last year alone making up half of Florida’s total bite count in 2020.
“New Smyrna Beach
has many more bites, but all are very minor. Mainly from juvenile coastal sharks like blacktips,” Bowling said. “The water is very murky so they react to movement when hunting. Unfortunately, these little 3- to 4-foot sharks end up biting a person’s foot sometimes.”
The GSAF also listed New Smyrna Beach with a higher count of documented shark bite incidents than Daytona, recording 219 bites from 1947 to 2020, but the Shark Attack Capital of the World was not on Outfoira’s most dangerous beaches list.
Outforia could not be reached for comment about why New Smyrna didn’t make the cut.
The ISAF documents Volusia County as a whole to have the most reported shark bites in the world, and cites New Smyrna Beach as the epicenter.
In other Outforia danger categories, Daytona Beach ranked highest in the total number of surf zone fatalities between 2014 and 2021, reporting 13. The next highest was Emerald Isle in Jacksonville, North Carolina with 12. Total fatality figures dip in the No. 3 spot with Miami Beach having reported eight.