Sullivan's Island Sandbars Update

Mac
Sep 22, 2024
2 min read

Well, it's that time of year again. It's been six months since I last documented the sandbars off Sullivan's Island. Par for the course, we've had some interesting weather in that time. And of course, the sandbars have indeed shifted around.

Why is this relevant to Charleston Ocean Athletes? Because Sullivan's Island is a major playground for many of us. Those sandbars dictate where we have flat water, bump and jump, and wave conditions.

I last took drone photos and video of the Sullivan's Island sandbars on March 14, 2024 at dead low tide. It was a negative low tide of -0.5'.

I flew the drone again this past week during this recent king tides period, on September 18th at dead low tide, again with a negative low tide of -0.5'. So the comparisons should be apt.

Its a challenge to get the exact same angle and altitude each time I fly the drone. Notice some of the angles and altitude are a little different in the comparison photos below, so take that into account.

I'm way overdue on doing a time lapse photo comparison of the south Folly Beach sandbars. I intend to get down there as soon as possible for some new photos and video. Stay tuned for that.

Here's looking north at Breach Inlet. The sandbar mass to the right has split up into sections. The area around Station 29 and Station 30 seems to have lost some sand. It slopes to the water differently. Even walking in that area, you can tell sand has been lost compared to earlier this year.

Another comparison view of the Breach Inlet sandbars

A closer view of Station 30

Station 28.5 - the pond is bigger, and it's interesting to see how that little canal to the ocean has straightened out

Outside of Station 28.5, looking south towards the lighthouse. Sand has been lost along this stretch. Notice there's more of a slope of the beach towards the water along that long stretch of the beach.

Another view towards the lighthouse, just from further out. The altitude (and bad lighting) in the March 2024 photo is definitely higher than the September 2024 photo, so this comparison may a little skewed.

Now...check out these quad comparison photos dating back a year and a half to April 2023...