It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Destin History & Fishing Museum gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Destin, FL is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Henderson Beach State Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ruth's Chris Steak House or visit HarborWalk Village, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Destin, FL, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Destin, FL understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Destin, FL 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
If you’re looking for a wonderful tropical Florida day of sun, sand, and sparkling water, look no further than Crab Island in Destin!This “island”, actually a sandbar, is one of the most popular and talked-about attractions in the Destin area.At one point, the area was an island, created in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers when Destin Pass was dredged to stabilize the Gulf of Mexico entrance.The sand leftover from the project was then deposited into Choctawhatchee Bay, creating a small island....
If you’re looking for a wonderful tropical Florida day of sun, sand, and sparkling water, look no further than Crab Island in Destin!
This “island”, actually a sandbar, is one of the most popular and talked-about attractions in the Destin area.
At one point, the area was an island, created in the 1960s by the Army Corps of Engineers when Destin Pass was dredged to stabilize the Gulf of Mexico entrance.
The sand leftover from the project was then deposited into Choctawhatchee Bay, creating a small island.
As the years went by, the sand eventually eroded and became the popular sandbar it is today and only 1-4 feet deep.
Check out our top tips for a fun-filled and relaxing trip to this popular underwater sandbar known as Crab Island.
Crab Island is at the Southern entrance of the Choctawhatchee Bay, inside Destin’s East Pass, and along the North side of the Destin/Marler Bridge, and is only accessible by boat.
One option is to drive your own boat or other watercraft, kayak, paddleboard, or jet ski to the island.
Pontoon boats are the most popular mode of transportation, so much so that the island is also known as the “Pontoon Capital of the World).
If you don’t have your own pontoon boat, you can rent a boat from Destin Vacation Boat Rentals or Crab Island Boat Rentals to get you over to the island.
Most of the boats can fit up to 12 passengers, and your driver will need to pass a short Boater’s Safety Test (if they were born after January 1st, 1988).
Once you have your boat, it’s only a 5-7 minute ride from Destin Harbor, 10-15 minutes from Okaloosa Island, and 20-30 minutes from Fort Walton Beach.
Another option is to take a shuttle from Destin Habor, which is the most affordable way to make the trip.
The shuttle boat offers various excursions to choose from and is equipped with a captain, crew, and onboard restroom.
This is a great option for groups who do not want to drive their own boats, and just want to sit back and relax!
Other great shuttle boat options include Tailfins Island Adventure, Ariel Water Taxi, Crab Island Cruises, Crusin Tikis Destin, and the Destin Water Taxi.
Other than relaxing and wading in the water on the Island, you may be wondering what else you could do!
One popular option is the Adventure Tour, which includes a boat tour, snorkeling, shelling, paddleboarding, kayaking, and even a floating inflatable water park!
Check it out and book tickets from Crab Island Company.
If relaxing excursions are more up your alley, and you want to simply enjoy the natural beauty of the area there is plenty for you to do as well.
Yes! There are quite a few vendors on the island from March through October.
Keep in mind that while alcohol is allowed on the island, none of these local businesses and food vendors are allowed to sell it. If you’re wanting to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, make sure to #BYOB.
The local businesses most recently at the sandbar include:
While it is not possible to stay on the Island, you may choose to stay in a hotel nearby in Destin on the mainland.
Below are just a few of the recommended local and boutique options:
You can search for more accommodations on Booking.com.
Check out some of Authentic Florida’s other favorite island getaways:
DESTIN, Fla. (KAIT) - A volunteer organization is calling off the search for an Arkansas girl who went missing near the coast in Destin, Florida.The United Cajun Navy announced on Saturday, June 21, that it is suspending search operations for 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger after taking over the search effort from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.“After days of detailed and tireless searching, the United Cajun Navy is suspending the search for Trinity,” the nonprofit organization said in an ...
DESTIN, Fla. (KAIT) - A volunteer organization is calling off the search for an Arkansas girl who went missing near the coast in Destin, Florida.
The United Cajun Navy announced on Saturday, June 21, that it is suspending search operations for 10-year-old Trinity Eslinger after taking over the search effort from the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
“After days of detailed and tireless searching, the United Cajun Navy is suspending the search for Trinity,” the nonprofit organization said in an update on its Facebook page.
The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office announced it would conclude active search operations for Trinity Eslinger on Wednesday, June 18. The United Cajun Navy continued the search until June 21.
Locals and visitors to the area should remain vigilant and on the lookout and report information related to Trinity to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.
While Florida authorities have called off their search for a missing 10-year-old Arkansas girl, a group of volunteers continued to look for her for several days after official efforts ended.
The office stated that multiple agencies and volunteers searched a 250-square-mile area for six days.
“While we will never stop hoping to bring Trinity home, we are now beginning the process of scaling back dedicated resources. Deputies will continue to patrol the area as part of regular operations,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office said it remains committed to supporting the Eslinger family and will respond to any new information.
“Our hearts are heavy, and this is not the outcome anyone hoped for,” said Sheriff Eric Aden. “We are deeply grateful to every agency, volunteer, and community member who gave their all in this search. Our thoughts and prayers are with Trinity’s family during this unimaginable time.”
Meanwhile, the United Cajun Navy told K8 News it would take over the search efforts after the sheriff’s office finished its work.
Southern Regional Commander of the United Cajun Navy Kevin LaFond said that as they get further into this search, every moment is crucial.
“This is one of the situations where when we get on scene and I described it to the teams yesterday, we have to start with a blanket over the entire area, but then with more information and more search activity on the water, that blanket narrows down to a rope and that rope narrows down to a thread,” LaFond said. “If we follow everything and there’s still no recovery, then we know that all the possible options we can search for are exhausted, and that would be the time that we call things.”
LaFond said the family is holding up as best as can be expected.
“I can only put it this way: quiet breathing and strength,” LaFond said. “They’re in shock, but they’re showing incredible strength and incredible composure as they go through this, and there is gonna come a time when that strength is going to have to come from somebody else, it’s going to wear on them and that’s the other part of the reason we’re here, is to help be that strength when they need it.”
LaFond says they are using every resource at their disposal to find Eslinger, including sonar technology, boats, divers, helicopters, and drones.
According to the sheriff’s office, Eslinger was last seen in the water around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12, between Osteen Beach and Norriego Point in Destin.
Nicole Hodskins, who works for the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, said Eslinger is from Jonesboro.
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A popular beach location on Florida‘s Gulf Coast, Destin is also home to many sharks. Because of its warm, clear waters, sharks flock to this area as well as others like it off the coast of the Sunshine State. Known as the Emerald Coast, this part of Florida is a dream for people who love spending time at the beach and in the water.While there is no shortage of fascinating marine lif...
A popular beach location on Florida‘s Gulf Coast, Destin is also home to many sharks. Because of its warm, clear waters, sharks flock to this area as well as others like it off the coast of the Sunshine State. Known as the Emerald Coast, this part of Florida is a dream for people who love spending time at the beach and in the water.
While there is no shortage of fascinating marine life in the waters near Destin, a few shark species are known to frequent the area. From the beach, you may see one of these sharks patrolling the shallow waters. Venture into the ocean to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, or fish, and you’re even more likely to come across a shark. It’s helpful to know when to observe from a distance and when to be more concerned. It is always important to keep in mind that sharks and other marine life, even those that aren’t aggressive, should be left alone. This is for your safety as well as the safety and health of the animal.
Okaloosa County, where Destin is located, has only had four confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1882, according to data collected by the University of Florida and Florida Museum. The data gathered since 1926 shows that blacktip, spinner, and sandbar sharks are involved in the majority of shark attacks statewide. These species can be difficult to distinguish, however.
These sharks are not common to see from Destin beaches but they do frequent the Gulf of Mexico. So they’re worth mentioning, particularly because they are one of the more aggressive sharks that you may encounter. Bull sharks react aggressively when threatened, which they feel quite often when they come into contact with anything unusual (humans). Like most wild animals, they’d prefer to keep their distance from people but they’re quick to pick a fight if they feel like one might be coming. You could call them the “sensitive sharks.”
Bull sharks are gray with short, round snouts. They have prominent dorsal fins. The top of their tail fins are noticeably longer than the bottom, one of the most easily identifiable features of a bull shark. It’s important to keep a keen eye out for sharks in general but especially when you think you spot a bull shark.
An April 2017 shark attack off the Destin coast involved a bull shark. The swimmer, a 17-year-old from Kentucky who was in Florida to play in a softball tournament, was bit and had to get more than 120 stitches. Fortunately, she got away from the shark and actually punched it, resulting in more small cuts on her hands. In this case, the shark came toward her with a wave as she swam in the water and was not provoked. We’re guessing that the shark learned his lesson, though, and are glad that the girl made it out of the water to tell the amazing story of the time she punched a shark in the face.
Also rare, tiger sharks are some of the largest sharks around Destin. Because of their massive size, this species always gets special attention when they do make an appearance. They are also aggressive, like bull sharks, with ferocious appetites to match their appearance. If bull sharks are the sensitive ones, tiger sharks are the ones who will grab your lunch money because they just need something to eat.
You’re unlikely to see a tiger shark swimming near the shore. While they do swim around near the water’s surface, they also like to dive down deep. The open ocean also has more potential food for them, so they don’t typically feel the need to venture away from the underwater buffet. The biggest threat from a tiger shark is not that it will bite out of spite but rather that it could mistake a person for a large fish or marine mammal that it wants to eat for lunch. Still, attacks are very rare.
So when can you spot a tiger shark in the wild? If you go on one of the many deep sea fishing charters that leave out of Destin, your chances of spotting a tiger shark go up. Sometimes, you might even catch a tiger shark while fishing. They can often get up to 500 pounds and as long as 20 feet. Imagine trying to reel that in with your fishing rod! Deep sea fishing setups almost always include supports and other specialized equipment that can handle bringing in massive animals like these.
Blacktip sharks are often confused with another requiem shark, blacktip reef sharks. Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) and blacktip reef sharks (C. melanopterus) are so named for the black tips on some of their fins. However, Florida is only home to one of these two species, C. limbatus. Blacktips feature black markings on their first and second dorsal fins, pectoral fins, and the lower lobe of the caudal fin, and these markings may fade with age. These sharks, on average, are about 4.9 feet long and weigh about 40 pounds. They tend to feed in shallower waters (less than 100 feet), making sightings of and encounters with this shark a more frequent event compared with other shark species.
If you want to see or swim with a blackfin shark, there are numerous charter companies operating out of Destin that can help you get up close and personal with these sharks. You can go fishing for blacktip sharks as well. They are much smaller than tiger sharks, but they can still grow to be more than 5 feet long. You’ll need some special equipment or rig to get these sharks reeled in. This is where going on a fishing charter can be so helpful. Not only do they have the necessary equipment, but most captains come with plenty of expertise about the best ways and places to fish for blacktip sharks.
These sharks are truly amazing creatures, both in appearance and behavior. Nurse sharks tend to be docile and are usually more interested in taking a nap than attacking a person. They spend a lot of time on the sea floor, sleeping, eating, or just relaxing. They don’t like to move, instead preferring to stay in the same place on the sea floor for most of the day.
If you are a scuba diver in Florida waters, nurse sharks may be some of the most common shark species that you see. Because they don’t move around a lot, these sharks generally aren’t too disturbed by human observers. They aren’t interested in people as a potential food source and don’t want to be bothered to move in most cases. As long as you leave the shark alone, he’ll be happy to stay sleeping so that you can get a good look. Just be careful not to disturb the shark by accidentally stepping on him or getting too close. After all, they still have sharp teeth that they aren’t afraid to use if they feel threatened.
These sharks like shallow water near the coast so spottings are a bit more frequent than with some other sharks. Keep in mind that attacks are still extremely rare. But it’s important to watch for sharks. The first thing you’ll likely see is their dorsal fin on the surface of the water. If you spot one, alert others nearby and give the shark its space.
Even though hammerheads can get 12 feet or longer, they don’t make a big splash and can swim around without anyone noticing. Destin has plenty of beachfront hotels. From rooms just a few floors up, visitors can get the perfect view of the water below. They often see shapes moving under the water that turn out to be sharks before the swimmers do. That’s one reason why video footage of sharks swimming near unsuspecting swimmers or paddleboarders happens near Destin.
One of the world’s largest gatherings of tiger sharks has become an annual, awe-inspiring spectacle at a fishing pier between Destin and Fort Walton Beach.The Island Pier juts 1,262 feet out from the sugary white sands of Florida’s Okaloosa Island, between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Since the early 1970s, this pier and its predecessors have been etched in sunset photos of the Gulf Coast, casting silhouettes on generations of sunburned American vacationers.For decades, like other familiar panhandle sites including...
One of the world’s largest gatherings of tiger sharks has become an annual, awe-inspiring spectacle at a fishing pier between Destin and Fort Walton Beach.
The Island Pier juts 1,262 feet out from the sugary white sands of Florida’s Okaloosa Island, between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Since the early 1970s, this pier and its predecessors have been etched in sunset photos of the Gulf Coast, casting silhouettes on generations of sunburned American vacationers.
For decades, like other familiar panhandle sites including the Pensacola Beach water tower, Big Kahuna’s waterpark and the ever-present rumble of fighter jets up and down the coast, the pier on Okaloosa Island has changed little as the surrounding coastal communities have grown from fishing villages into condominium-lined cathedrals of salt and sun.
Today, 5.3 million beachgoers travel to this stretch of the Florida panhandle each year. Most migrate from homes within driving distance of the seashore. In the suburbs of cities like Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Nashville, New Orleans and Memphis, “Salt Life” stickers and circular “30A” icons cling to the windows of SUVs, pickup trucks and minivans. Each denotes that the owner is a member of a kind of deep-fried vacation club that journeys to this accessible slice of paradise just a drive from the comforts of home.
In the past four years, those vacationers have been joined by a new kind of visitor that has been migrating en masse to Okaloosa Island—tiger sharks. Since 2021, groups of them have been mysteriously converging on the Island Pier. What seemingly began as an aggregation of around 10 sharks has now grown to a cumulative population that could exceed 100 different individuals throughout the summer.
Researchers now believe the event may represent one of the largest gatherings of tiger sharks in the world.
Destin-Fort Walton Beach and a group of research partners use an acoustic tag monitoring station at the Island Pier to document the movement of fish species. Historically, most of the data recorded has been produced by roaming sportfish like tarpon or redfish, as well as sea turtles and other shark species like blacktips, bull sharks and sandbar sharks. Recent summers, however, have started to change that picture.
Tiger sharks are an apex predator. They’re at the top of the food chain, above nearly all other species of shark on the Gulf Coast. While they, too, are native to these waters, tiger sharks have never been recorded here in numbers like this.
“We’ve tagged almost 40 tiger sharks in total,” says Destin-Fort Walton Beach natural resources chief Alex Fogg. “Based on tag data, it seems like there are a lot of animals that we have not tagged that are coming in and out of the system. We could have two or three times the number of sharks in the area than we have tagged.”
A marine biologist by trade, Fogg keeps one foot in the biology door and a thumb on the pulse of tourism in Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Fogg and the Destin Fort-Walton Beach Natural Resources team are working with Louisiana State University, Mississippi State University and the U.S. Geological Survey to learn more about where the sharks are coming from, and why they’ve decided to linger around this specific pier.
The sharks appear to be drawn in by a naturally-occurring death of thousands of Clupedia forage fish around the pier. Researchers theorize that the tiny bait fish are schooling in such numbers that they deplete the available oxygen in the water around them, creating a school-induced hypoxia that causes a mass die off. Fogg says tiger sharks, a notoriously lazy predator, usually arrive a day later to clean up the mess.
Thus far, the sharks have arrived every year since 2021 in mid-June. They usually depart by early August.
So far, acoustic and satellite tag data has shown sharks migrating to the Island Pier aggregation from as far away as the Florida Keys and western areas in the Gulf of Mexico. However, research teams believe the sharks may be arriving at the pier from as far away as the East Coast and the Caribbean.
Island Pier also offers a relatively protected area for the apex predators to dine. Shark fishing is banned on the pier, and while anglers can catch and harvest tiger sharks in federal waters, Florida state waters create a nine-mile, no-take protection area for the animals.
Among tiger sharks, Island Pier appears to be unique. Though similar fishing piers are located in nearby Pensacola, Navarre Beach and Panama City, tiger sharks are not appearing in the same numbers there. The behavior pattern may be reliable enough to create a boon for ecotourism in the region.
On June 30, Fogg’s team installed an underwater camera beneath the Island Pier, providing a stream that will go live later this summer.
Right now, the tiger shark aggregation is still largely flying under the ecotourism radar. However, a clue to its future impact could lie on another American coastline 2,300 miles away in California. Each year, an estimated 80,000 travelers venture to California’s Pismo Beach to see a congregation of tens of thousands of iridescent, orange monarch butterflies lingering in a diminutive eucalyptus grove. The monarchs contribute to an estimated $158 million economic impact in San Luis Obispo County.
Island Pier is uniquely positioned to benefit from a similar ecotourism draw. If the pattern holds, travelers could soon be marking their calendars for the tiger shark aggregation on Okaloosa Island.
“I don’t think you will find this anywhere else in the world,” says Shane Reynolds, a Destin-based cinematographer who volunteers with Fogg’s Natural Resources crew to gather data from submerged monitoring stations near Island Pier. “Normally, if you are going to see a tiger shark aggregation, you need a passport and a boat. You need a dive certification. Here, you just need two dollars to walk out onto the pier and you can watch them without even getting wet.”
Until now, casual visitors to the Florida panhandle have never had an opportunity to see apex marine life like tiger sharks this easily. “You really have an incredible opportunity to watch this co-habitation of apex predators and people that has been happening for four years now,” says shark conservationist and Discovery Shark Week host Kinga Philipps.
Philipps is one of the world’s most visible advocates for tiger sharks, having filmed extensively in the water with them on scientific expeditions around the globe. “To see them in numbers, you’d normally have to go to Tiger Beach in the Bahamas or Tiger Zoo in the Maldives. You may have to go to French Polynesia. Up until now, tiger sharks have not been super accessible. They have an exotic appeal to people because they aren’t normally seen by beachgoers. To have the ability to stand on a pier and literally count sharks from above is insane.”
Researchers believe there is space for both human and non-human travelers to share Island Pier in the summer. In 2024, there were 47 confirmed unprovoked cases of shark attacks on humans. Only two of those attacks (one in Hawaii and one in Australia) were attributed to tiger sharks. In both cases, humans were inadvertently infringing on the shark’s space.
At Island Pier, swimming and diving activities are restricted year round. Diving is not allowed without a permit. Swimming is not allowed within 150 feet of the pier. Researchers believe the sharks already have room and space to feed.
Fogg, Reynolds and Philipps are all quick to note that in the four years this shark aggregation has been observed, no swimmers have been harmed by the animals, either. At Island Pier, tiger sharks are showing little interest in beachgoers away from the pier. Food sources they might normally prey on—like passing sea turtles and tarpon—appear to be disregarded in favor of an easy mouthful of bait fish. “These tiger sharks spend all day circling the bait fish and eating the dead ones off of the bottom,” explains Reynolds. “It’s a simple life for them, and it’s pretty fruitful. They are all pretty fat and happy.”
There is hope that by drawing attention to the aggregation, visitors will be more mindful of research efforts taking place during peak visitation months and be more curious about the world of tiger sharks. “So far, we are all good around the pier,” adds Philipps. “But there does need to be an awareness and a consciousness of their presence. People need to know that these sharks are not messing with people, but they do exist at Okaloosa Island in numbers.”
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - As state and local agencies have suspended searches for a missing 10-year-old near the Destin East Pass, a local diver is taking action to keep the quest going.The diver’s name is Jonathan Ivey, and he said he felt called to action after hearing Trinity Eslinger’s story.She disappeared almost two weeks ago while swimming in the Gulf....
MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - As state and local agencies have suspended searches for a missing 10-year-old near the Destin East Pass, a local diver is taking action to keep the quest going.
The diver’s name is Jonathan Ivey, and he said he felt called to action after hearing Trinity Eslinger’s story.
She disappeared almost two weeks ago while swimming in the Gulf.
Officials said storms in the area and big seas made the search difficult, and with authorities suspending search efforts, Ivey has taken the mission upon himself.
“I’m overwhelmed and I’m very shocked by how many people were willing to help take on this endeavor,” he said. “And it’s a bit of an adventure. I mean, there’s a lot of places to search, it’s not something for the faint of heart and seeing the community be very brave is very touching.”
What started as a Facebook post asking for a diving buddy to join him, turned into a dozen divers willing to help.
“I figured I could find one person who was willing to go with me and I was very surprised to find thousands of reactions,” he said. “I have so many messages in my inbox of people willing to help.”
Ivey said he’s been diving since he was fourteen, and he’s eager to use his hobby for a greater good.
He said his mission is to provide peace of mind and more closure for Trinity’s family, and above all, to bring her home.
He explained how divers will begin searching the area on Wednesday morning where Trinity was last seen, and they will be using information about the tide to help them look more accurately.
“We’re going to spread out in groups of two,” he said. “We’ll take the gear. Some of us will go on a boat, some of us will go right into the shoreline and swim outwards about a half mile and search the are and canvas that area. We’re hopeful and we’re prayerful but what we really want to offer the family is peace of mind knowing that there’s not a single place that could have been searched that wasn’t.”
Ivey is asking the community to keep the divers in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow as they embark on a mission to find this missing girl.
If you are interested in volunteering you can find out more information here , and if you aren’t a diver but still want to help, you can contact Jonathan Ivey.
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