"Dr. Beach" ranks Ocracoke's lifeguarded beach #2 in America

Ocracoke’s lifeguarded beach is now ranked #2 in America just behind a Hawaiian destination.

“Dr. Beach” is Stephen Leatherman. He’s a coastal scientist and professor at Florida International University. He began compiling his annual best beach list under the alias “Dr. Beach” in 1991.

His rankings are based on 50 criteria with the most important factors being water cleanliness and the safety and management of the beach environment and its facilities.

The #1 spot for 2019 went to Oahu’s Kailua Beach Park in Hawaii.

The top ten include:

10. Beachwalker Park Kiawah Island, South Carolina

9. Coronado Beach, San Diego, California

8. Hapuna Beach State Park, Big Island, Hawaii

7. Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin/Clearwater, Florida

6. Coast Guard Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

5. Duke Kahanamoku Beach, Oahu, Hawaii

4. Coopers Beach, Southampton, New York

3. Grayton Beach State Park Florida panhandle

2. Ocracoke Lifeguarded Beach, Outer Banks of North Carolina

1. Kailua Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii

Anyone with plans to visit Ocracoke can now make reservations to ride the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The new ferry began service on May 20 and offers three daily trips between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island for $1 each way. You can get more information on the ferry service

.