If a beach trip is out of reach, webcams bring sun, sand to you

Love to look at the ocean but can’t stand the sand?

Live webcams at several Florida coastal cities let you watch the beach — and beachgoers — in real time.

Nikki Atherton and Debra Davis, both from Indiana, were surprised and a bit uneasy to learn they were being filmed while on Deerfield Beach.

“It’s good if someone were to snatch up your purse or something while you’re in the water,” said Davis. “But it’s not good if you were, like, laying out here topless.”

Most cities said they installed beach cams so people could check the beach conditions before they head out. In Deerfield Beach, surfers use the cameras to check the waves, while in Dania Beach, fishermen use the cameras to check for choppy water.

Here’s where some of the beach cams can be found:

Viewers can check surf conditions, look at the beach and see what the fish are up to with an underwater camera located at the end of the beach pier. Director of Public Affairs Rebecca Medina Stewart said the idea came about because of the area’s large scuba diving community.

Jake Middleton, who works at Island Water Sports surf shop, said customers frequently ask about the beachcams.

He said the height of waves can look different depending on the beach, so the cameras make it easier for surfers to plan before they head out to the water. Go to:

Delray Beach’s webcam shows the view of the beach from Anchor Park facing the shoreline. It’s received over 4,000 views in the last month. The camera is also streamed to the city of Delray Beach’s YouTube account.

Donna Kaplan, a Delray resident, said she didn’t have any problem with the cameras showing those on the beach.

“There’s cameras all over the world,” she said. “And everyone’s on Facebook putting where they are all the time anyways.”

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Wayne Gales, the resort’s director of sales and marketing, said he installed the camera for guests to be able to check the beach conditions.

“It’s a good idea,” said Florin Ilie, from New York. “You can plan your trip to the beach, see if there’s a lot of people.”

Go to:

There are two cameras; one shows the beach and pier and the other points at Anglin’s Square. The city’s had the cameras for just over a year and they’ve gotten 28,000 hits in that time.

Patricia Leyh said she lives in Pompano Beach but always has the Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach cams on her computer, because she likes how the cameras showcase the beach and the pavilion.

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The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau has multiple webcams showing live footage of South Beach in Miami Beach, Ocean Drive, Downtown Miami, Biscayne Bay and Sunny Isles Beach. Multiple famed Miami attractions are visible from the cameras, including Miami Beach’s art deco buildings, Coconut Grove, Bayfront Park and the American Airline Arena. The webcams have gotten over 50,000 views this month. Go to: