Dead Man's Surf Guide
Surf spot guide
Dead Man's Surf Guide
Originally named in the '70s after a body washed ashore, Dead Man's is also known as the Gulfarium. It breaks in front of Fort Walton's small-scale answer to Sea World, or the Poles, referring to the remnants of the first Okaloosa Island Pier. The pier is long gone, but the outflow pipe from the Gulfarium Marine Life Park's porpoise tanks continues to chug out saltwater, acting like a tiny rivermouth.This spot is a fast, hollow lefthander on small to medium east swells, spinning over a very shallow sandbar with head-busting force. Dead Man's is located off Highway 98, heading east toward Destin. Follow Highway 98 east on Okaloosa Island. Turn into the Okaloosa Pier parking lot, which is about two miles from the Brooks Bridge.
Ability Level
Intermediate - Advanced
All levels
Local Vibe
Welcoming
Mellow.
Crowd Factor
Moderate
Average to high.
Spot Rating
Fun
Pretty average spot overall. No one is driving here solely to surf this spot.
Shoulder Burn
Medium
Easy on small days, tougher paddle on larger swells.
Water Quality
Fair
Can be less than ideal due to fish sewage from the drainage pipe.
Hazards
Getting slammed on the bottom, dead men on the beach.
Bring Your
Shortboard
Access
Okaloosa Pier parking lot.
Bottom
Sand
Best Season
Fall-Spring, Hurricane
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