What are those things biting you in the water in the Outer Banks?  They are tiny larvae known as megalops.  These little biting critters are in the final larval stage of crabs and are only a millimeter wide.  However, you aren’t feeling bites in your bathing suit, but the claws of the baby crabs instead! Today there were a few hours of slightly warmer water temperatures in the Outer Banks.  For weeks the Outer Banks water has fluctuated from somewhat warm to freezing due to a continued upwelling.  So having the opportunity for a brief but warmer swim caused great excitement for me and the kids. We ran to the water, shivered briefly and dove in.  Cold! ...

Today I would like to acknowledge the excellent Outer Banks lifeguards that work diligently to keep everyone safe during their beach vacations. This weekend the OBX water was warm and beautiful.  And even better?  The waves were large, bringing out the surfers and body boarders.  With this surf came some expected churning, pulling and currents. I was on our Ocean Sands beach swimming with my nine year old daughter and her friend.  Near us was a watchful mother with several young children at the water’s edge.  One of the Currituck County lifeguards was driving his four wheeler down the beach and stopped to read the water in front of her. After sittin...

This weekend was a beautiful one in the Outer Banks.  Temperatures were high with clear and sunny skies both Saturday and Sunday.  However, the water temperature and the surf were not in our favor despite the summer heat. Two weeks ago we were swimming in the cold but pretty Corolla ocean water.  But water temperatures can be a fickle thing, especially with the Labrador Current, winds and other factors that change the Outer Banks water temperatures.  This weekend it was c-o-l-d.  Cold enough that we gave it a “two arms up.” The wind came off the land for part of the weekend, bringing in a few biting flies to devour the ankles of every unsuspecting gu...