Explore oceanic wonders at coastal destinations

The curated articles collectively explore the impacts of oceanic phenomena on tourism and local communities, focusing on how natural occurrences like jellyfish, sargassum, and marine life shape experiences at beach destinations. They examine how coastal ecosystems and their unpredictable elements can affect human activities and the environment.

Jellyfish, often misidentified when washed ashore, play roles in local tourism dynamics. Despite their harmlessness when addressed appropriately, their presence in areas like Myrtle Beach poses concerns for skin irritations, often colloquially referred to as 'sea poisoning' or 'ocean itch', disrupting the usual ocean bliss. Sargassum blooms increasingly worry coastal communities due to their impact on beaches. These blooms, particularly when substantial, can introduce unforeseen health concerns through the decomposition process. They occasionally wash up along South Carolina beaches, causing minor disturbances compared to areas like Florida, heavily coated in seaweed due to location and currents. Salps, often mistaken for jellyfish, are another natural phenomenon observed in these coastal stories. Although harmless, their abundance speaks to larger ecological patterns and changes, influenced by factors such as water currents and food availability, indicating a shifting marine landscape in Myrtle Beach and beyond.

Have you seen this barge off the beach in North Myrtle Beach, SC? The vessel is there as part of a multi-million dollar project to help prevent beach erosion. By Jason Lee

NO. 1: WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE BARGE IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH? THEIR PROJECT SUPERVISOR EXPLAINS.

Are you curious about the large barge that’s been at the beach since the holiday weekend? We sat down with their supervisor to find out what’s going on. | Published July 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Elizabeth Brewer

A child jumps the waves in the Arcadian Shores section of Horry County. The week of Memorial Day marks the unofficial beginning of the tourist season along Grand Strand Beaches. May 31, 2022. By JASON LEE

NO. 2: WANT TO AVOID AN ITCHY TRIP TO THE OCEAN? HERE’S HOW TO AVOID SEA LICE IN MYRTLE BEACH

Some Myrtle Beach ocean-goers finish their trip to the beach feeling itchy. Here’s what you need to know about sea lice and swimmers’ itch. | Published July 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Ben Morse

A man walks his dogs on the beach during a break between rain squalls on Thursday. As Hurricane Dorian approached North Myrtle Beach on Thursday reported tornados damaged buildings and a lashing rain brought flash flooding to area roads. Thursday Sept. 04, 2019. By Jason Lee

NO. 3: HOW SEA FOAM IN MYRTLE BEACH AREA CAN HURT YOUR DOG. WHAT TO KNOW IF PET ROMPS IN OCEAN

Sea foam can often be seen along the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. People often take their pets for a walk on the beach and possible swim. | Published August 22, 2024 | Read Full Story by Terri Richardson

Briggs Holtry, 9-years-old of Surfside Beach, picks up starfish to return to the water on Monday. Thousands of small starfish washed ashore during low tide on Garden City Beach, S.C. in 2020. By JASON LEE

NO. 4: WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND STARFISH, SEA TURTLES OR JELLYFISH STRANDED ON SC BEACHES, EXPERTS SAY

Dolphins, sand dollars, sharks and more: Here’s what the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources recommends if you find a sea creature washed ashore at the beach. | Published November 23, 2024 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Poking or picking up salps, like this one in Cherry Grove Point, poses no danger to folks or their pets. North Myrtle Beach, April 6, 2025. By Jason Lee

NO. 5: THOUSANDS OF LITTLE BLOBS ARE WASHING UP ON MYRTLE BEACH, SC AREA BEACHES. THEY’RE NOT JELLYFISH

Have you seen the clear, gelatinous creatures all over Grand Strand beaches? Here’s what the blobs are and why they’re covering the shore around Myrtle Beach. | Published April 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

Sargassum CQ or sargasso CQ weed washes up along the Grand Strand beaches. This was found in the surf near the 48th Avenue North beach access, Myrtle Beach SC. TSN File Photo. By CHARLES SLATE

NO. 6: TONS OF SEAWEED WASHING UP ON SOUTHERN BEACHES. WILL GRAND STRAND BE AFFECTED?

Myrtle Beach area beaches are not immune to seaweed. But will we get as much as such southern spots as Florida and Texas? | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Win Hammond

Darlene Quattrone Doepp’s picture of an odd mantis shrimp in North Myrtle Beach sparked jokes and theories on Facebook.

NO. 7: BIZARRE SEA CREATURE WASHES UP IN NORTH MYRTLE BEACH. AN SC MARINE BIOLOGIST JUST IDENTIFIED IT

A picture of this odd animal that washed up in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina sparked everything from lewd jokes to genuine theories from Facebook users. Here’s what the creature actually is, according to a marine biologist. | Published May 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Maria Elena Scott

A black blob appeared off the coast of Cherry Grove in this 2024 file photo. It’s most likely a giant school of fish. By Marie King

NO. 8: WHAT ARE THOSE DARK SPOTS IN THE OCEAN? HERE’S WHY LIFEGUARDS WANT YOU TO AVOID THEM

What are those dark spots in the water and why are lifeguards so concerned about them? All you need to know about bait balls in Myrtle Beach | Published June 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Win Hammond

Sargassum is a type of algae that grows in large “mats” offshore, providing habitat for sea turtles and other marine creatures. Its small, round air bladders are what keep it afloat, but sometimes storms and currents can break them off. July 15, 2025.

NO. 9: THOUSANDS OF BERRY-LIKE OBJECTS WASHING ASHORE AROUND MYRTLE BEACH. WHAT ARE THEY?

The small, translucent orange balls have been dotting the seashore up and down the Grand Strand. They’ve been mistaken for eggs, berries and even salps. | Published July 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alexa Lewis

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.