Every summer, something remarkable happens just down the road from 30A. Not far from 30A’s vibrant mix of sugar-white beaches, eco-preserves, and beach-loving community, tiger sharks begin to gather beneath Okaloosa Island Pier in numbers that have caught the attention of scientists, filmmakers, and increasingly, curious beachgoers.

Since 2021, these massive predators have been showing up in early summer, right as schools of baitfish start to crowd the waters around the pier. When those baitfish begin to die off, most likely due to low oxygen levels, tiger sharks appear to take full advantage of the easy meal.

Some years, dozens of them can be seen cruising just beneath the surface, slowly circling like something out of a documentary. Which, fittingly, is exactly what’s happening right now.

Shane Reynolds, an Okaloosa-based filmmaker and the founder of Color Earth, has been in the water with them. Alongside marine scientists and the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources team, Shane has been documenting this migration up close for the last four seasons. Earlier this summer, he dropped an Insta360 camera into the action to capture one of the sharks being tagged, from the hook to the release, describing the experience as “30 minutes of chaos and beauty.” His footage is raw, mesmerizing, and gives us a glimpse into the lives of these mysterious animals.

“It’s pretty incredible,” Shane said. “You don’t usually get to see apex predators like this without a passport, a boat, and a dive certification. Here, all you need is two bucks and a walk to the end of the pier.”

The science side of this story is just as compelling. Since the aggregation began a few years ago, nearly 40 tiger sharks have been tagged with satellite and acoustic devices. The project is being led by a collaborative team including Destin-Fort Walton Beach Natural Resources, LSU, Mississippi State University, and the U.S. Geological Survey. The goal is to figure out where the sharks are coming from, how long they stay, and why they keep returning to this one specific spot.

So far, the results are fascinating. Tagging data shows that some sharks travel all the way from the Florida Keys and possibly even the Caribbean. Yet, for some reason, they make their way back to the same pier each year—right on schedule.

Researchers believe the aggregation may now be one of the largest known tiger shark gatherings in the world.

Okaloosa Island Pier, located between Destin and Fort Walton Beach, offers a rare opportunity to see these animals without ever getting wet. And despite their size—some are up to 12 feet long—there have been no incidents or safety concerns, and through education and regulation, the hope is for that trend to continue. Swimming isn’t allowed near the pier, and shark fishing is prohibited.

The sharks seem uninterested in anything except the buffet of baitfish at the bottom.

For those who can’t make it in person, a live underwater camera has recently been installed under the pier, with hopes to stream the action later this summer. It’s all part of a growing effort to connect people to the incredible wildlife along our coastline, and it has the potential to grow into a new kind of eco-experience for the Panhandle.

If this migration continues, visitors may start planning their summer vacations not just for the sand and sunshine, but also for a front-row seat to one of the most jaw-dropping shows in the sea.

So the next time you’re on 30A and feel like a little adventure, head west. You might just catch a glimpse of something unforgettable.

Quick Notes for Visitors

• The best time to spot tiger sharks is from mid-June to early August
• Okaloosa Island Pier is about a 40-minute drive from 30A
• Walking the pier costs just $2, and it’s open to the public
• No swimming or shark fishing is allowed near the pier

To learn more, visit Color Earth and follow Shane Reynolds on Facebook and Instagram.