South Folly Beach / Stono River Sandbars

I've been remiss in updating the aerial photo/video documentation of the Stono River and South Folly Island sandbars. The last time (and only time until now) I did it was May 2023, well over one year ago.

Of course, we've had some interesting weather in that time. And of course, the sandbars have indeed shifted around. Aside from weather impacts, there has been a recent beach renourishment effort along South Folly Beach. Bird Key at the mouth of the Stono River looks large and in charge...appearing very healthy with lots of greenery and with more sand than the year before.

Why is this relevant to Charleston Ocean Athletes? Because South Folly is a 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 Stono River / South Folly sandbars on May 30, 2023 at dead low tide. That day, it was a low tide of 0.5'.

I flew the drone again during a recent king tides period, on October 18th, 2024 at dead low tide, this time with a negative low tide of -0.3'. So the comparisons aren't quite the same, off by approximately 10". Next year, I'll try to capture images on a negative low tide again for better comparisons.

Its also 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.

Nevertheless, the comparison images below are interesting...

South Folly Beach, looking north at Folly Beach County Park

South of Bird Key, looking north at Bird Key and South Folly Beach in the distance

North of Bird Key, looking south towards the tip of Kiawah Island

East of Bird Key, looking west at the Kiawah River (top left) and the mouth of the Stono River (top center)

North of Bird Key, looking south towards Kiawah Island

Just over Bird Key looking north towards South Folly Beach

East of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island (mouth of Stono River is to the left, and Folly River to the right)

The following are from October 18, 2024 at dead low tide of -0.3'

360 degree video, from just west of Bird Key

view from just over Bird Key looking north towards South Folly Beach

East of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, Kiawah Island, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River

Just east of Bird Key (lower left), looking north towards Snake Island (mouth of the Stono River to the left, Folly River to the right)

Further out, east of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island. The tip of South Folly Beach is on the right.

Further out, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

A little closer in, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

Closer in a little more, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

North of Bird Key, looking south towards the south tip of Bird Key and the eastern tip of Kiawah Island in the distance

East of Bird Key, looking west towards the south tip of Bird Key and Kiawah Island in the distance

Just south of South Folly Beach, looking west towards (from left to right) Kiawah Island, Bird Key, the Kiawah River, the mouth of the Stono River, and Snake Island

Just south of South Folly Beach, looking north towards Snake Island (tip of South Folly Beach on the right)

West of Bird Key, looking east at Bird Key and the Atlantic Ocean beyond

West of Bird Key, looking northeast towards western tip of Bird Key and South Folly Beach in the distance

Same view as above, just a little more to the left

Just north of Bird Key, looking west towards Kiawah Island and the Kiawah River. Western tip of Bird Key is to the right, Snake Island is to the right.

Just north of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island. Kiawah River is top left, Stono River is top center and top right.

Same view as above, just a little more to the right, looking north at Snake Island

Same view as above, looking more to the right at the mouth of the Folly River. South Folly Beach is top right.

North of Bird Key, looking north at South Folly Beach

Looking north at South Folly Beach and Folly County Park

Sullivan's Island Sandbars Update

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...

Breach Inlet

Breach Inlet sandbars

Station 30

Station 28.5

Looking south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

360 degree video view from outside Station 28.5 - September 18th, 2024 - negative low tide -0.5'

More photos from September 18, 2024...

Outside Station 28.5 looking north towards Breach Inlet

Station 28.5 and slight view to the south

Station 28.5 and slight view to the north

Breach Inlet sandbars

Breach Inlet sandbars looking towards Isle of Palms

Another view of the Breach Inlet sandbars looking towards Isle of Palms

Further outside Station 28.5 looking towards Breach Inlet

Longer view of the sandbars outside Breach Inlet

Station 28.5 close-up

Station 28.5 and looking south towards the lighthouse

Looking south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

Further outside looking south towards the lighthouse and the harbor entrance

Ocean Athletes Night

Mex1 on Sullivan's Island recently hosted Ocean Athletes Night on Thursday, May 30th. It was co-sponsored by Charleston Ocean Athletes, Force Kite & Wake, Cabrinha, and Pacifico. It was a fun evening with a big turnout of the local surf, wind, paddle, and foil community. We enjoyed Mex1's food and drink, watched local & global action films, talked story, and reveled in the camaraderie.

The community - that's what it's all about. We may have differences amongst us in terms of opinions, belief systems, and life experiences but one thing we share in common is our love of being out on the water. Charleston Ocean Athletes celebrates you. Ride everything. Ride anything.

I heard some great comments and feedback on the event such as "It was great seeing everyone", "It was awesome to have the community together like that", and "I am inspired to get out in the water after watching the films." That's why we put on this event.

Speaking of films, the local films that premiered at this event were a big hit. Here they are...

This new one from yours truly, Charleston Ocean Athletes:

Guiding Light Drones (Syd Meyer) premiered an exciting new kiteboarding short film:

In addition, we showed this little teaser of a new project that Charleston Ocean Athletes and Guiding Light Drones are working on together. Syd of Guiding Light Drones did a great job of filming and editing this teaser clip for a local womens' specific kiteboarding short film we're working on. Stay tuned for the premiere date announcement!

Force Kite & Wake also premiered a new short film of local kiteboarding and prone surf foiling:

And...we also showed this Charleston Ocean Athletes short film that premiered last year:

What a great evening! A big thank you to Mex1 and the other sponsors!

Follow Charleston Ocean Athletes and Mex1 on Instagram for future Ocean Athletes Night events.