Destin is looking for a lot more lifeguards for the upcoming beach season

With spring break just weeks away, Destin Beach Safety is gearing up for the droves of people who will be heading to the Emerald Coast. 

“The season last year was great ... we had plenty of people here,” said Destin Beach Safety Director Joe D’Agostino. 

"I would anticipate about the same or maybe a little more, that’s what I’ve been hearing,” D’Agostino. 

Last year between March and September, about 2 million visitors made it to the local beaches. 

And to prepare for those coming to the Gulf coast this year, D’Agostino said they are hiring. 

“We always need more lifeguards,” D’Agostino said. 

“And we have bumped our starting pay up to $20 an hour and we are hiring. So, if anyone wants to come out and do a swim test, the best thing they can do is email me,” he said at jdagostino@destinfire.com. 

D’Agostino said they need 70 lifeguards who will work in rotations to staff the beaches. Right now, they currently have between 30 and 40 guards. 

Who can become a lifeguard?

To be a lifeguard, a person must be at least 16 years old. 

“Probably the most difficult thing is they have to pass a 550-yard swim in 10 minutes or less,” D’Agostino said.

“Everyone sees us on the beach leaning against the 4-wheelers, but they do not see that swim test. That is a tough one for people to get around,” he said. 

Destin Beach Safety has scheduled four two-day training dates for those interested in becoming a lifeguard. The dates are March 15-16, March 22-23, May 17-18 or May 31-June 1. 

“We have plenty of options,” D’Agostino said. 

“They just need to show up for one of those ... pass the swim test and we’ll get them hired,” he said. 

And if a guard gets all their certifications, they could make as much as $30 an hour.

But to get top pay, they would need to be a state-certified emergency medical technician and pass the advanced lifeguard fitness test, which is “way more difficult than the 500-meter swim,” he said. 

They would also need officer training and proficiency on the radio. 

“There’s a lot to get to the $30, but it’s there for young men and women to try and obtain,” he said. 

Beach safety last year

Destin had two drownings last year, one around spring break and then former NFL quarterback Ryan Mallett drowned in late June.  

Both were not rip current related and did not occur in turbulent waters. 

From 2023:With spring break in full swing, Okaloosa County says arrests are slightly below last year

While some try to police beachgoers and issue warnings and fines for going into turbulent waters, D’Agostino said they use a different approach. 

“We try and use public knowledge and public information ... and try to educate people as best we can, as to why going in the water would be a bad idea,” he said. 

“And that percentage that does not listen anyway, we’ll save them,” he said. 

On patrol in 2024

“We start on March 9,” D’Agostino said. 

Destin Beach Safety starts the season with the three public parks – James Lee Park at the Okaloosa/Walton County line, the Inn at Crystal Shores, and June White Decker Park near the Back Porch. 

“We’ll have lifeguards and roving patrols,” he said, noting they will not staff the towers until Memorial Day weekend. 

During the season, Destin lifeguards cover seven miles of beach from Capt. Dave’s on the Gulf Restaurant at the Okaloosa/Walton County line to the east jetties near the Marler Bridge.