Thinking of hitting the beach this year? You might want to double-check the stats before you dive in. A new study from Good Guys Injury Law ranked the most dangerous beaches in the U.S. using a composite risk index that factors in shark attacks (both total and per mile), hurricane frequency and lifeguard rescues. Read on for the top five riskiest beaches for 2025.
At number one is New Smyrna Beach, FL. With 185 shark attacks and 1,200 rescues annually, New Smyrna tops the list with a risk score of 76.04. It’s not just the shark bite capital—it’s also a hotspot for hurricanes and rescue operations.
Miami Beach, FL is up next. Despite only five shark attacks, Miami racks up around 1,500 rescues a year. Heavy foot traffic and frequent storms push its score to 67.75.
Hawaii's Waikiki Beach, at number three, sees more rescues than any other beach—1,800 a year—but fewer sharks and less storm activity keep its score slightly lower at 47.78.
At number four is Jacksonville Beach, FL. This beach reports 13 shark attacks and 1,100 rescues per year, earning a risk score of 46.35. Its shorter coastline means a higher incident rate per mile.
Wrapping up the top five is Cocoa Beach, FL. Its score of 41.57 is a result of 26 shark attacks annually, but fewer rescues and a lower attack density than the others.
Overall, Florida is home to the riskiest beaches, with seven of the ten most dangerous beaches.
Bottom line: while beach vacations are all about sun and fun, stay alert if you're heading there, especially in Florida.
Ten riskiest beaches, according to incident data
- New Smyrna, Beach Florida
- Miami Beach, Florida
- Waikiki Beach, Hawaii
- Jacksonville Beach, Florida
- Cocoa Beach, Florida
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
- Melbourne Beach, Florida
- Panama City Beach, Florida
- Santa Monica Beach, California
- Jupiter Beach, Florida