The Top 10 Most Dangerous Beaches in America

1. New Smyrna Beach, Florida (78.94)
2. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (56.90)
3. Oak Island, North Carolina (43.24)
4. Miami Beach, Florida (41.98)
5. Jacksonville Beach, Florida (41.74)
6. Fort Lauderdale Florida (38.51)
7. Miramar Beach, Florida (35.02)
8. Panama City Beach, Florida (31.59)
9. Gulf Shores, Alabama (30.79)
10. Ponce Inlet, Florida (28.73)

The study – which it should be noted comes from an insurance company (Everly Life), rather than an official scientific body – ranked the beaches out of a possible danger score of 100. The score was dictated via the following factors: “documented shark attacks, drowning incidents per 100,000 people, number of months with high wind speeds, and local crime rates.”

With NSB in the top spot, here’s what the study said:

“New Smyrna Beach tops the list with a danger score of 78.94, significantly higher than any other beach analyzed. Often called the ‘Shark Attack Capital of the World,’ this Florida destination has recorded 303 shark attacks since records began, the highest number among all beaches studied. The beach also faces serious drowning risks, with an incident rate of 2.1 per 100,000 people.”

According to the International Shark Attack File’s most recent report, they did, once again, find that Florida was the top spot in the United States for bites. They also noted that surfers accounted for 33 percent of all attacks in 2024. Why? Gavin Naylor, director of the Florida Program for Shark Research, reported: “People surf where there are good waves, and where there are good waves, there’s turbidity, and where there’s turbidity, there are often bait fish that attract sharks.”

Interesting to note that all the beaches listed are on the east coast. No California. No Hawaii. Pipeline sure seems pretty dangerous, especially this season. If the study was looking at the most dangerous beaches in the United States, per surfing injuries, it would most definitely look very different.