South Folly Beach / Stono River Mouth Sandbars Update

It's been a year since I've documented the sandbars off the south end of Folly Beach. That was October 18th, 2024 during a negative low tide of -0.3'. I went back out on November 5th of this year, again during a negative low tide of -0.3' to capture new aerial images of the sandbars. Below are comparison photos plus many more images from November 5th.

The relevance to Charleston Ocean Athletes? Many play around these sandbars in various wind, surf, foil, and paddle sports so it's useful to know how the sandbars have changed. These sandbars dictate where we have flat water, bump and jump, and wave conditions. Plus, it's just plain interesting to see the changes.

In this case, there doesn't appear to be much discernible differences in the sandbars just off the beach of South Folly, or around Bird Key. Bird Key looks as healthy as ever, much better than two to three years ago. The biggest differences appear to lie in the sandbars between south Folly and Bird Key. It looks like the sandbars have lessened and shifted in that area quite a bit.

Forgive me for some angle differences in the comparison photos below. It's tough to get the exact angle and height as the year before. The angle and height differences can make comparisons difficult to judge accurately but you can get the general idea by looking at them.

The Stono River mouth, Bird Key, and the sandbars north of Bird Key.

Looking south towards Kiawah Island and the east end of Bird Key

This view is just off the south end of Folly Beach facing west towards the Folly River mouth. Bird Key is just out of view to the left.

The south end of Folly Beach - not much discernible difference in the sandbars here

Looking north towards the south end of Folly Beach

Bird Key - not much difference - it looks pretty healthy!

The following are all from November 5th, 2025 at dead low tide of -0.3'

Here is a 360 degree video view of the area on November 5th at dead low tide of -0.3' - the drone was flying between south Folly Beach and Bird Key...

Here is a video of Bird Key...

The following six aerial images are a 180 degree view sweeping from north (towards south Folly), to west (towards Snake Island), to south (towards Kiawah Island)...

Some more individual aerial images of the area...

The Stono River mouth and northwest corner of Bird Key

Same view as above, just zoomed in a bit more. Boaters can hug Bird Key at low tide and get through there to/from Stono River & Folly River just fine it appears as long as you stay far from those sandbars along Snake Island (top right).

northwest corner of Bird Key is at bottom right, looking north up the Folly River, Snake Island to the left

The sandbars between Bird Key and south Folly

same view as above, just slightly to the right (northeast)

Looking east towards the Atlantic Ocean, this is a narrow channel along the north side of Bird Key that leads to breaking waves on a shallow sandbar (Bird Key to the right)

same channel as above, view looking south towards Bird Key and Kiawah Island

eastern tip of Bird Key looking east towards the Atlantic Ocean. Thats the northeastern most tip of Kiawah Island at top right

Bird Key, looking towards northeastern tip of Kiawah Island

Looking southwest towards the Stono River mouth, Bird Key, Snake Island, and the sandbars north of Bird Key

Same view as above, just zoomed in a bit more

Closer view of the sandbars north of Bird Key, looking west towards Snake Island

Bird Key, looking towards Kiawah Island - note the boat's path along Bird Key bypassing those shallow sandbars along Snake Island

Same view, same boat as above - zoomed in just a bit more

same boat as above, making its way into the mouth of the Folly River

Sullivan's Island Sandbars Update - April 2025 (south IOP too)

It's that time of year again for an update on the Sullivan's Island sandbars. As we all know, the sandbars change naturally over time but this time it's particularly interesting since there has been a great deal of man-made beach renourishment work going on at both the south end of Isle of Palms and the north end of Sullivan's Island. A massive amount of sand has been pumped in to these spots the last several months from the spoil islands along the ICW nearby.

At bottom of this post are some south Isle of Palms photos and videos as well, ending with a 5 minute aerial video collage of Breach Inlet / Isle of Palms / Sullivan's Island.

I flew the drone on Friday, April 25th at dead low tide, which was -0.5' at that time. By comparison, the last time I captured images there, it was also a negative -0.5' low tide on September 18th, 2024. Below are some comparison photos showing the difference in seven months.

For those new to seeing this - the relevance is that this area is a big playground for the local Charleston area ocean athlete community in all things surf, windsport, paddling, and foiling related. It helps to know how the sandbars are changing and where. Hopefully this is helpful to the local boating community as well.

Breach Inlet facing north towards the Breach Inlet Bridge and south end of Isle of Palms

Station 30 - note the new sand from the recent beach renourishment work, particularly how the old rock jetties are now covered up.

Station 28.5

Facing south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

A wider view facing south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

360 degree video - it starts facing north over Breach Inlet

A brief clip moving south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

A brief clip outside of Station 28.5

Video starting south of Station 28.5 and moving north over the beach towards Station 30

More Photos...

Facing north over Breach Inlet towards Station 30 and the Breach Inlet Bridge

A view of Station 28.5 and Breach Inlet from way outside

Way outside facing south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

South of Station 28.5 facing north towards it and Breach Inlet

Over Breach Inlet facing north toward the Breach Inlet Bridge and Isle of Palms

The outer Breach Inlet sandbars on south side of the inlet (facing towards Isle of Palms)

Facing the ocean - the outer Breach Inlet sandbar. This is why you don't drive a boat through there at low tide.

Over Station 30, looking south and outside of Station 28.5. It appears a new inner channel might be forming again inside of Breach Inlet, reminiscent of years' past.

A closer view of Station 30 facing north

North of Station 30, facing south towards Station 28.5

South IOP images....

Outside of south Isle of Palms facing west toward the Breach Inlet Bridge

Outside south Isle of Palms facing 2nd Avenue and north

Video outside south Isle of Palms facing the Breach Inlet Bridge then swinging north towards the pier

South end of Isle of Palms and flying north

South end of Isle of Palms facing north up the beach, note the beach renourishment heavy equipment at 3rd Avenue.

South end of Isle of Palms facing south towards the outer sandbars of Breach Inlet and Sullivan's Island

South end of Isle of Palms facing the Breach inlet Bridge and Sullivan's Island

180 degree video of Breach Inlet at Sullivan's Island & Isle of Palms

5 minute aerial video collage of Breach Inlet / Isle of Palms / Sullivan's Island - April 25th, 2025 at dead low tide -0.5'

WIND BOUND

Charleston Ocean Athletes is very proud to have played a small part of WIND BOUND (Charleston Women Kiteboarders) short film. After premiering last summer at one of our local Ocean Athletes Nights at Mex1, then featured at a couple of film festivals, it's now available to view on YouTube. I'm so excited everyone gets to see it now.

It started out as a vision that I had a couple years ago. At any given random time I was at the beach or on the water capturing the action for Charleston Ocean Athletes, it was mostly men out there. I got to thinking…I know there’s women rippers here. How can we get more women out on the water?

I happened to meet two of them at the beach, Natalie Coleman and Jenny Amram, and I mentioned doing a local Charleston women’s only kiteboarding film. They were all in. Then they met Syd Meyer, discovered she was into filmmaking, and was a beginning kiteboarder at the time. So the four of us sat down and talked about the film.

Lexi Boo Bear, Jenny, Mac, Natalie, and Syd (L to R)

It quickly became apparent that Syd should make the film. She brought a youthful and positive energy to the project. She worked tirelessly on all the little (but actually really big) things like securing sponsors, organizing a local charity raffle and collecting prizes for the film premiere, film promotion, communicating with everyone, not to mention most of the videoing & all of the editing. I was happy to provide feedback & collaborate where needed but she did all the heavy lifting. And uh…well…she’s a woman and it kind of makes sense that a woman make the film about women kiteboarders, right?

She knocked it out of the park. How do I know? Because I got goosebumps when I saw the final cut. I still get goose bumps watching it to this day. A film has to evoke emotion and this film that Syd made does that. The goal of the film is to inspire more women to get out on the water and learn new skills they might have thought they couldn’t do…whether it’s kiteboarding or surfing or wingfoiling or windsurfing or paddling or whatever. I talked to some women at the film's premiere who had thought about trying kiteboarding and they were much more inspired after seeing the film. Goal accomplished.

That’s what it’s all about. As Natalie says in the film, “Sharing the Stoke”. A huge thank you also to Natalie Coleman and Jenny Amram, because this film couldn’t have been made without their very helpful collaboration, ideas, bringing the community of women kiteboarders together…and of course introducing me to Syd.

Wind Bound 💨 | Charleston Women Kiteboarders🏄🏼‍♀️ | Kiteboarding Short Film 🎥

📝Produced by Syd Meyer (SSS Lighthouse Films), Mac Barnhardt (Charleston Ocean Athletes), Natalie Coleman, & Jenny Amram

🎥 Syd Meyer - Primary

🎥 Other footage provided by Mac Barnhardt, Alli Lehr, Julien Kepski, Cora Bisbee, Livy White, Jenny Amram, Natalie Coleman

👩‍💻Directed & Edited by Syd Meyer

Film Sponsors: Sealand Adventure Sports, SSS Lighthouse Films, Mex1

Force Kite & Wake, Levity Cannabis Spirit, Shades of Charleston, Davidson Dermatology, Women Entrepreneurs Inc, Cosana Coaching, Poe's Tavern, Estuary Brewing, Rheos Sunglasses

Cheers, Mac