Crab Island in Destin: 2024 Ultimate Visitors Guide

Crab Island in Destin, Florida, is one of the most popular visitor destinations on the Emerald Coast—and for good reason! If you’ve ever visited the Destin area, chances are you’ve heard some mention of this popular sandbar.

For many people, a Destin vacation is not complete without a day of swimming and hanging out at Crab Island on a hot sunny day.

If you want to go to Crab Island but are unsure how to go about planning it, this post will help you plan the perfect day there. Even if you have been to Crab Island before, this guide should make the next visit even better.

In this guide, I cover everything you need to know to plan the perfect day at Crab Island, including the best time to visit, the best way to get there, and most importantly, how to get the clearest possible water during your visit.

I will also show you how to use the tide charts, surf report and weather forecast to plan your visit for the most pristine and crystal-clear water conditions possible. This might sound complicated at first, but it’s easy once you understand.

The rules and regulations at Crab Island change every year, so it’s important that you are reading a current guide when making your Crab Island plans.

There have been a lot of changes in the last few years at Crab Island, making most of the information and photos I see online alarmingly inaccurate.

This guide is for the 2024 season and I will update it every year. If you are going to Crab Island in 2025 or later, be sure to bookmark it and check back for changes and updates as your visit approaches.

I live on Destin Harbor and visit Crab Island frequently. I have traveled to Crab Island by paddle board, kayak, jet ski and boat at all different times of the year.

I have analyzed the surf and tide reports and talked to tour operators for tips and advice on various aspects of the Crab Island experience.

Now I’m excited to put everything I’ve learned over the years into this ultimate Crab Island guide for you.

If you don’t think Crab Island is your thing, I hope to change your mind here. So much has changed in the last few years, making it a completely different place from years past.

These days I go out to Crab Island whenever I can. There’s something magical and surreal about the entire experience, especially if you go when the conditions are at their peak. Sometimes I look around at the crystal clear blue sparkling water and think, “Is this real?”

About Crab Island

Crab Island is a shallow, submerged sandbar in the Choctawhatchee Bay just north of the Destin Bridge.

Crab Island used to be an actual island that was created by sand dredging in the East Pass, but over time storms and currents eroded it into what remains today, which is all underwater.

If you’ve been to Destin or ever considered a visit to Destin, you have likely heard about Crab Island. Crab Island is best known as a spot where boaters gather to swim and play in the crystal clear water.

Crab Island used to be a bit of a local’s secret but then gained popularity when pictures of the crystal clear water beneath a tropical floating city started getting shared all over social media and on national news outlets.

You might be leery about visiting Crab Island based on things you have heard online. However, a lot of Crab Island’s reputation came from past years when it was a rowdy party destination.

Those old massive party days are gone now, and it’s a completely different place. Many of the people talking about it online possibly haven’t been there in a while and aren’t aware of the changes.

I used to hate Crab Island and avoided it at all costs, but I love it now. Many people are the opposite and they prefer the old Crab Island to what it is now. You will have to make up your own mind about it.

How Deep is the Water at Crab Island?

The water depth at Crab Island ranges from about 2-5 feet deep, but it changes throughout the day depending on the tides and where you anchor.

Most areas are around waist-deep—the perfect depth for walking around and shallow swimming. I made a video below where I am walking around Crab Island on a typical summer day. This video will give you an idea of the water depth.

Where is Crab Island Located?

Crab Island is located in Choctawhatchee Bay, just north of the Destin Marler Bridge. There’s a perfect view of it from the bridge when driving west on Highway 98 from Destin to Okaloosa Island.

Map of Crab Island

I made the map below to show you the basic layout of Crab Island in relation to the Destin Marler Bridge, East Pass, Okaloosa Island, Destin Harbor, Norriego Point, and Holiday Isle.

Things to do at Crab Island

There is plenty to do and see at Crab Island, but the primary reason people go is to just relax and hang out in the water.

There used to be a lot more activities at Crab Island, from riding a mechanical shark to bar hopping and watching live music shows, but these days it’s a more chill atmosphere. Most common activities include:

• 🦀 Walking around in the Shallow Water
• 🦀 Swimming
• 🦀 Paddle Boarding or Kayaking around Crab Island
• 🦀 Relaxing in Floating Chairs and Inflatables
• 🦀 Setting up and Playing Games of VolleyBall
• 🦀 Eating Lunch at one of the Crab Island Restaurants
• 🦀 Getting Ice Cream or a Drink from a floating vendor
• 🦀 Shopping at the General Store
• 🦀 Tossing a Frisbee or Football
• 🦀 Relaxing on the Boat
• 🦀 People Watching
• 🦀 Watching for dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine life
• 🦀 Snorkeling around your boat

There are places to rent a kayak or paddle board by the hour on Crab Island if you can’t bring your own. The general store will blow up your inflatables for free if you did not bring a pump.

What to Pack for Crab Island

Packing for a day at Crab Island is similar to packing for a day at the beach. Here are some essentials to not forget:

• 🦀 Sunscreen
• 🦀 Cooler with drinks and plenty of water
• 🦀 Food, snacks and alcoholic beverages
• 🦀 Cash (if you plan on making any purchases)
• 🦀 Water toys and Floaties

When is the Best Time of Year to go to Crab Island?

The best time of year to go to Crab Island is during the summer months of May, June, July and August. This is when the water temperature is most comfortable for swimming and the vendors are out offering food, drinks, merchandise, and rentals.

Summer is when the most tour and excursion boats are operating. These months also have more clear water days compared to the rest of the year because of the high tide times falling more often during the day.

The question of what day and time to go to Crab Island is more complex and I will cover it further down in the section about using the tide charts to get the clearest water at Crab Island.

People are still out enjoying Crab Island in March, April, September and October and tour boats will be operating during these months, but it’s just not quite the same place as it is in summer.

In March and April, most people will find the water too chilly to enjoy swimming for very long, but this varies depending on how warm the air temperature is.

In September and October, many of the vendors will be on a more limited schedule, with the busiest season in Destin having ended in August.

The water is still nice and warm in September and October, so sometimes people think it must be a good time to go. However, there are not as many clear water days because the high tide times start shifting more towards being in the evening or middle of the night.

So even though you might hear advice telling you that fall is a great time for Crab Island, it’s really more of a summer thing. Unless you like brown water and no vendors.

November, December, January and February are not the best months to go to Crab Island. The water is chilly, there are no vendors out, and most days the water is murky or tea colored since the high tide times mostly fall at night in winter.

What is the Best Way to get to Crab Island?

You can only access Crab Island by watercraft, such as boat, jet ski, kayak or paddle board. You cannot drive to Crab Island and attempting to swim there is extremely dangerous.

In the sections below, I cover each option in more detail, including where to rent and launch your watercraft and how to stay safe on your journey.

I’ve also included a section about Crab Island taxis and tour excursions if you want someone else to do the boat driving.

Renting a Boat for Crab Island

Most Crab Island visitors arrive by boat and pick a spot to anchor for the day. They either own the boat or rent it.

The most popular type of boat to rent for Crab Island is a pontoon boat. Pontoon boats are roomy and comfortable, easy to operate, and most hold up to 12 passengers, so they are ideal for families.

Some pontoon boats even have a top deck with 1 or 2 slides. These are called double decker pontoons and can be lots of fun at Crab Island. Ask your rental company about availability.

A boat rental might not be cost-effective if you are a couple or a smaller group. There are other options after this section in that case.

There are many places to rent a pontoon boat for Crab Island. I made a map below showing the 3 main areas to consider for Crab Island boat rentals. Which one to choose depends on your plans and preferences.

I have no personal experience renting a boat from any of the companies mentioned in the sections below, but I am only naming companies that are well-known reputable providers in Destin. If I end up renting a boat in Destin and have an experience to share, I will update this post.

If you are a reputable boat/watercraft rental company in Destin and I did not include your name in one of these sections, let me know so I can research and include you.

Renting a Boat on Choctawhatchee Bay

*This area is represented with a green star on my map above*

The major benefit of renting your boat or watercraft from this area is you are very close to Crab Island. So if you are only going to Crab Island and nowhere else, this is a good choice.

The closest place to Crab Island for boat rentals are the companies on Choctawhatchee Bay. Both Xtreme H20 (7 Calhoun Drive) and Wet ‘n’ Wild Watersports (114 Calhoun Drive) operate here.

This area is also a good choice if you are new to driving a boat or nervous about it, since you won’t have very far to go.

The downside of renting from here is that you would miss the opportunity to cruise through Destin Harbor on your way to Crab Island. But if you have extra time, it’s certainly an option to pass Crab Island and add a cruise around the harbor to your day.

You can also cruise around the bay, but there’s not as much to see. However, there is a lot less boat traffic to contend with on the bay than the harbor, so again, it’s the perfect spot for new or nervous boaters.

This location will also have less traffic and parking aggravations to contend with versus renting a boat from Harborwalk.

Renting a Boat from Harborwalk Village and Destin Boardwalk

**This area is represented with a yellow star on my map above**

Most of the boat rental companies in Destin are at Harborwalk Village and the Destin Boardwalk next to it. This is a long stretch of waterfront area that runs from the Emerald Grande Resort at the Destin Bridge, all the way to the Destin Yacht Club gate.

Boat rental companies operating in this area include Boogies Watersports, Destin Vacation Boat Rentals, Tailfins Pontoon Rentals, Luthers, Destin Boat Shack Boat Rentals, Xtreme H20 (additional location) and Happy’s Watersports.

One benefit of renting from the Harborwalk and Destin Boardwalk area is that you get to enjoy a short scenic boat cruise on your way to Crab Island.

You pass the restaurants and shops of Harborwalk Village to the north and the beautiful beaches of Norriego Point to the south before passing under the Destin bridge on the way to Crab Island.

The other benefit is that you can enjoy other activities before or after your rental, without changing locations.

You can check out the shops at Harborwalk Village, a variety of great restaurants, enjoy events and live music, or just wander and watch the fishing boats come in with their fresh catch at the marina.

If you do an afternoon boat rental on a Thursday in summer, you can also stay for dinner and fireworks.

Check out my fireworks guide here for more info: Best Places to Watch the Destin Harbor fireworks and the 2024 schedule of shows

There are a lot of boat rental places to choose from in this area with a variety of boat types, so you might even find one here without having to make a reservation in advance (although I always recommend making reservations in advance just in case).

One downside of renting your pontoon boat at Harborwalk Village or Destin Boardwalk is you probably have to pay for parking. The main lot at Harborwalk is $20 now.

Some rental companies east of Harborwalk on the Destin Boardwalk might have free parking available or they will sometimes validate your parking so you don’t have to pay. Check with them about parking when you call about the reservation.

There are a few City of Destin paid parking lots across the street. The charge for those is currently $15, but they are good for any City of Destin Harbor lot, so you could use it again if you come back for dinner that evening. Here is more info for those: City of Destin Harbor District parking lots

Another potential downside for renting in this area is that traffic can get pretty heavy going to Destin Harbor, so you need to leave plenty of time to get there, just in case.

It can also take some time to find parking, even when you pay for it, so be sure to account for that too.

Traffic and parking at Harborwalk Village will be less of a concern in the mornings since more people head out there in the afternoon and evening.

Renting a Boat from East Destin Harbor

**This area is represented with a red star on my map above**

This area of boat rentals is located east of Harborwalk and Destin Boardwalk, further down the harbor. These companies are on the other side of Destin Yacht Club, so you can’t walk to them from Harborwalk since the public walkway ends at the Yacht Club.

Companies operating here include Blue Crab Watersports and Aloha Pontoon Rentals—both on the little beach area between Marina Cafe and Boshamps restaurants.

One benefit to these spots is that there will usually be less traffic getting to them, since they are about a mile east of the most congested area of Harborwalk. They also have free parking available at Marina Cafe.

Another benefit is that you can enjoy an even longer cruise on your way to Crab Island. You will also be closer to the east side of Destin Harbor, where you can explore all the harbor canals and residential areas down to Louisiana Lagniappe at Sandpiper Cove, if you have time in the day.

For more information about the Harbor Canals and other areas of Destin Harbor to explore, check out this post: Tips for Kayaking and Paddle Boarding on Destin Harbor (You can explore all the same areas with a boat or jet ski too)

The downside to these spots is that they are the furthest away from Crab Island. If you are an inexperienced boater, or you want your entire time to be at Crab Island, then this is something to consider.

Other Boat Rental Considerations

Overall, the location differences are negligible and all have their pros and cons.

The most important factor when renting a boat is who you are renting with. Do your research, compare prices and offerings, and read customer reviews before you decide which company to choose.

Make sure you know the cancellation policy for inclement weather or unforeseen emergencies, since you never know what can go wrong—especially regarding rain and storms.

Requirements for Renting a Boat in Destin

This section will familiarize you with the requirements for renting a boar in Destin so you can prepare in advance.

Age Requirements for Renting a Boat

Legally you must be at least 18 years old to rent a boat in Florida, but similar to hotels, that doesn’t mean you would find a company to rent to you at 18 years old. Most companies will impose a minimum age of 21 or even 25 at their discretion.

Age restrictions are even more heavily enforced in March and April when colleges are on spring break. Always check with the boat rental companies if you are under 25 to see what their minimum age requirement is.

Getting a Boater Safety Card

Anyone born on or after January 1st 1988 is required by law to have a boaters safety card to operate a boat in Florida.

You can take an online course ahead of time to get it, but people on vacation who won’t use it very often can get a temporary card instead.

Your boat rental company will normally have a short course and quiz you can take onsite that will get you a temporary card to use while on vacation. Check with the rental company when making the reservation in case they have an option to complete it online in advance.

Besides the boater safety card, most companies will give you a quick lesson on operating the boat if you are new and answer questions to make sure you feel comfortable driving the boat before heading out.

Can I take my Rental Boat into the Gulf of Mexico?

When you rent a boat in the Destin Harbor area, you can operate it in Destin Harbor and go under the bridge to Choctawhatchee Bay.

Attempting to take a pontoon boat through the East Pass to the Jetties or the Gulf of Mexico (where the beaches are) is not allowed, and it’s very dangerous.

Always stay in the Harbor and Choctawhatchee Bay with your boat rental. This goes for jet ski, kayak and paddle board rentals too.

Renting a Boat with a Captain

If you don’t feel comfortable driving a boat yourself, then consider renting a pontoon boat with a captain. This is also a good idea if every qualified driver in your group wants to drink alcohol.

Don’t take a risk with drinking and operating a boat in Destin. They give out plenty of BUIs (Boating under the Influence) in Destin and patrol the area around Crab Island particularly well. Plus, it’s dangerous for you and everyone in your group.

Definitely plan on letting someone else do the driving if you plan to drink beyond the legal limit. The legal alcohol limit for boating is a BAC of 0.08%—the same as it is for driving.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of shady operators in the captained pontoon rental space. Make sure you are dealing with a reputable company who are following the proper safety rules. Destin has a lot of illegal charter operations going on, but they are cracking down on it more and more every year.

If the company does not have a permanent dock or location, if they ask you to pay Venmo or cash app, if they are offering to carry more than 6 passengers on a pontoon, if they don’t have a public place for reviews (Google, Trip Advisor, etc), or if this is the only service they offer, then these are signs that you *MIGHT* be dealing with a shady operator.

Always remember that anyone can own a boat, make a website and a social media page, and drive you over to Crab Island. But it’s an enormous responsibility to make sure people are on a safe boat with a safe operator, especially at a place like Crab Island. Check credentials and ask questions before booking in every situation.

You could also consider a Crab Island boat tour or taxi excursion instead of renting a pontoon with a captain. I discuss those options further down.

Renting a Jet Ski for Crab Island

Most of the places mentioned in the boat rental section will also have jet skis available to rent. If you are by yourself or with one other person then a jet ski might be an option to consider.

Jet Skis are a fun way to get to Crab Island and you can also go north of Crab Island to play around at faster speeds on Choctawhatchee Bay.

Requirements for Renting a Jet Ski in Destin

The requirements to rent a jet ski in Florida are the same as a boat (details in the boat rental section above). You must be 18 years old to legally rent a jet ski, but again, the rental companies may impose their own age restrictions, which usually require you to be 21 or 25.

The legal age to drive a jet ski is 14 years old but the actual rule is determined by the rental company. Some will allow it if an adult accompanies them and some will not.

Rental companies do not allow you to cross the east pass into the Gulf of Mexico and it’s dangerous to do this in a jet ski.

Bringing your own Boat to Crab Island and Where to Launch it

If you are bringing your own boat to Crab Island, the closest places to launch it are at the Destin Marina and Joe’s Bayou. Details about both are below.

Destin Marina Boat Launch

Destin Marina is the closest place to launch your boat for Crab Island located at 7 Calhoun Drive in Destin. There is a $20 fee to launch your boat for the day from here, which includes parking and restroom use.

Destin Marina has a bait and tackle shop with ice, snacks and drinks available along with boat fueling stations, so you have everything you need for a day on the water here.

Destin Marina also has 8 boat slips available for daily rentals on a first-come first-served basis. They are family owned and operated for over 50 years.

Joe’s Bayou Boat Launch

You can also launch your boat for Crab Island at Joe’s Bayou Boat launch located at 800 Beach Drive in Destin.

Joe’s Bayou is operated by the City of Destin and has 5 ramps, trailer parking, and restrooms. There is a $25 daily launch fee. Destin residents can obtain a free pass at City Hall.

Kayaking or Paddle Boarding to Crab Island

There is a lot of debate about whether it’s safe to kayak or paddle board to Crab Island. Some people say yes and some say no, but really it just depends on your abilities as a paddler and also on the weather and currents the day you go.

I have paddle boarded and kayaked to Crab Island many times, mostly solo, and have always felt safe. I am an experienced paddler though and I plan my days and times around certain factors. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this to a beginner paddler.

I feel more comfortable kayaking or paddle boarding to Crab Island during the week and in the first half of the day, so there is less boat traffic to contend with. It can get stressful when there are a lot of boats around, so I prefer to go during lower traffic times.

I also look at the water and asses the strength of the currents before I go, especially if I am launching from Destin Harbor as opposed to Choctawhatchee Bay. It’s not always easy to assess from looking, but you will get a feel for it once you are on your way.

If I am on a route that takes me under the Destin Bridge, I pause and look at the water flowing through the bridge before deciding to continue on.

Where to Launch your Kayak or Paddle Board for Crab Island

There used to be two good options for launching your paddle board or kayak to Crab Island, but Norriego Point is currently under construction, so there’s only one good public launch option for right now.

Captain Leonard Destin Park

Captain Leonard Destin Park on Calhoun Drive is the closest public launch spot to Crab Island other than the Destin Marina next door, but I prefer Leonard Destin park because it’s free parking and I can avoid the boat traffic at the marina.

The closest launch spot to Crab Island used to be the West Jetties beach area at the foot of the Destin Marler Bridge near the “Welcome to Destin” sign, but sadly that area is now permanently closed.

The closure of West Jetties beach is due to it being misused, mostly by illegally operating Crab Island water taxis and commercial vendors who were unauthorized to operate there. That beach area closed permanently in 2020. There is talk of reopening it, so maybe there will be more options in the future.

Luckily, Captain Leonard Destin Park is pretty close to Crab Island, so it’s a good alternative. This is a beautiful new park with restrooms, a fishing pier, playground, splash pads, and a nice kayak and paddle board launch area. Parking and use of the park is free.

Below is a 360 degree video of my recent kayak trip around Crab Island, including the paddle back to Norriego Point. You used to be able to launch from this spot on Norriego Point but it’s currently under construction.

Skip to the 4:55 mark in the video to see the full route from Crab Island to Norriego Point in a fast time warp hyper-lapse.

Remember, this is a 360 video, so turn your device in whichever direction you want to look. It plays best in horizontal orientation if you are watching on a phone.

Where to Rent a Kayak or Paddle Board for Crab Island

It is probably best to rent your kayak or paddle board from a place on Choctawhatchee Bay (as opposed to Destin Harbor) if Crab Island is your only destination.

This puts you closer to Crab Island and you avoid having to travel under the Destin Bridge where there is a lot of extra boat traffic coming in and out from Destin Harbor and the East Pass.

If you want to paddle board and kayak in areas of Destin Harbor other than Crab Island, check out this guide I wrote: Guide to Paddle Boarding and Kayaking on Destin Harbor

The closest paddle board and kayak rental place to Crab Island is Xtreme H20 Watersports on Calhoun Drive. They have multiple locations, so be sure you go to the correct one. I have not rented from them, but they are a long-time reputable business in Destin.

I always still bring an anchor to Crab Island if I’m on a kayak or paddle board. This could easily save the day for you. I didn’t know about this when I first started going out there and it was impossible trying to stay in one place.

Even in a light current, I couldn’t let go of my kayak or paddle board for a minute without worrying that it would float away. This made swimming and playing in the water pretty much impossible. In a stronger current, I had to hang on tight, so it wasn’t really possible to stay for long.

The type of anchor I use is one is a bag type that are light to carry. The bag ones are nice additions because they weigh nothing until I arrive and fill them with sand, so they are easy to carry along in case I need extra. The one I use is here: Kayak anchor on Amazon

I also use these anchors for my chair floats (both at the beach and Crab Island) so you should still consider getting these if you are going by boat and wanting to float around.

These anchors attached to a floaty make it so much more enjoyable since you can relax without being worried about being carried away from your spot by the current.

You will drift even in a light current but sometimes the currents are pretty strong and you would have to keep your feet grounded at all times without an anchor.

You can see the sandbag anchor I referenced above in the photo below of my Dad and his girlfriend at Crab Island. The sand anchor held the board in place as we walked around and swam. There’s another one on the kayak next to it.

This was their first visit to Crab Island and you can tell by the outfits that they thought we were going to an actual island.

Crab Island Water Taxis and Tours

Crab Island water taxis and boat tours are another way to get to Crab Island. These are great options if you don’t want to go through the process of renting a boat or don’t have enough people in your group to justify it.

Taking a Crab Island tour excursion is also something to consider if you want to drink alcohol without worrying about operating watercraft. As discussed above in the boating section, do not take the risk!

There are a lot of options for getting to Crab Island without renting a boat or driving yourself. One of the best ways is to take a boat tour. These vary in size, from large boats accommodating a lot of passengers to smaller boats for just your group, and everything in-between.

The more passengers a boat holds, the less it will usually cost. The way these tours work is they depart from Destin Harbor, cruise to Crab Island, and anchor up there for a period of time–usually around 3-4 hours.

During this time, you can swim and explore Crab Island and come on and off the boat as needed. Many of the larger boats also have restrooms on board.

A lot of of these excursions offer floats, water toys, games, snorkel gear, and other accessories to enhance your fun day at Crab Island. Some might also offer an ice chest with ice to keep your drinks or allow you to bring your own.

It is illegal for a boat to drop you off and leave you at Crab Island. The boat must stay with you at all times. This is why the official “Destin Water Taxi” does not go to Crab Island, although it’s one of the most common questions they get asked.

For more about the Destin Harbor Water Taxi, read this post: Destin Water Taxi: The Best Way to Travel Destin Harbor

There are good and bad companies as far as Crab Island tours go. READ REVIEWS from unbiased sites such as Google, Trip Advisor and Yelp.

I mention this because there are a few companies in town with horrid reviews about fraudulent behavior, and I’m shocked they are even still operating.

Another thing is to make sure you understand the cancellation policy. Weather and currents are unpredictable in Destin, so sometimes excursions get cancelled.

Do not deal with a company who does not refund if THEY cancel the trip, since a future credit might not be of any value to you depending on your travel plans. If they have to cancel the trip, you should have the option of a refund.

Do not deal with companies who insist that you pay with cash or cash app. You have no recourse in these cases if there are any issues with getting refunded over a cancelled or non-existent tour.

Now let’s move on to the good reputable companies in Destin, of which there are too many to list. I will tell you about the ones I know of from firsthand experience and then list a few others that I know to be reputable.

Reminder: I don’t allow anyone to pay to be recommended in my content, unlike most other online sites. Everything is authentically my opinion.

Crab Island Tour with Destin Snorkel

Destin Snorkel is the only company I have been on a Crab Island shuttle tour with, so I will start with them. They are a long-time trusted company operating several boats on Destin Harbor offering snorkeling, snuba, fireworks cruises, dolphin cruises and Crab Island tours.

Destin Snorkel offers two 3-hour trips per day from mid-March through October at 10am and 2pm. The cost is $60 per adult and $50 per child aged 4-12.

I went on the Crab Island adventure with Destin Snorkel in the fall of 2022 and had a great time. It was nice not to worry about anything except getting on the boat.

The boat ride to Crab Island took about 10 minutes to get there and anchor up. The captain slowed down for dolphin sightings on the way there and back, so everyone on the boat could spot them and get pictures. We also saw a sea turtle.

The Destin Snorkel boat holds up to 49 passengers, but there were only about 25 on board the day I went. I’m not sure how many they cap it at, but it did not feel crowded at all.

Several people brought their own coolers and floats and they had some onboard that people could use at well. There was also a restroom on the boat.

We were at Crab Island for about 3 hours. Some people stayed near the boat the whole time and some people wandered off.

The water was crystal clear and just above waist deep, so I went wandering pretty far, but made sure to be back in time. I went to the General Store on my Crab Island wander and also checked out some of the other vendors as well.

Click here for more information on their Crab Island tour: Destin Snorkel Crab Island Tour

Private Crab Island Tours with Pelican Adventures

Pelican Adventures is another company I highly recommend. I do social media and website work for them, so I have gotten to know them really well.

Pelican Adventures is an amazing family owned and operated company who really cares about their customers. They have become like family to me.

Pelican Adventures is one of the few companies to offer a small private tour to Crab Island for just your group. They do Crab Island tours on their “Just Right” boat, which holds up to 6 passengers plus the captain.

The total cost of the excursion is $450 for a 3-hour tour or $600 for the 4-hour tour. You can take anywhere from 1 to 6 people for the same price. If you divide that out per person, it’s a pretty good deal for a group of 6, considering it’s completely private.

The trip is also customizable. You don’t have to spend the whole time at Crab Island. You can combine it with a snorkeling stop at the jetties or grass flats, cruise around looking for dolphins, or however your group wants to spend the time.

Pelican Adventures also offers parasailing, snorkeling, and fishing excursions. Check out their website for more information: Pelican Adventures website

Other Crab Island Tours

There are other reputable companies offering a Crab Island tour such as Cruisin’ Destin Tikis and the Crab Island Shuttle Boat by Destin Vacation Boat Rentals. If I am able to go on a tour with either of them or other companies this season, I will update here with more details.

What are the Rules and Laws at Crab Island?

Crab Island has new laws and rules every year that vendors , tour operators and visitors must follow. The most important ones to know for 2023 are in this section.

Alcohol Rules at Crab Island for 2024

One of the biggest changes at Crab Island in recent years has been the laws surrounding alcohol sales and consumption. Crab Island used to be a major party destination, but that was back when the vendors could sell alcohol.

They banned alcohol sales from Crab Island in 2018 when things started really getting out of control at Crab Island as far as the party scene, the pollution and unsafe behavior.

Some vendors tried to get around the laws by offering free alcohol with the purchase of a non-alcoholic drink, so they had to crack down on those violations too.

Nowadays, visitors can still consume alcohol at Crab Island but they have to bring their own. If you are on a tour to Crab Island, the operator will normally allow you to bring your own cooler with alcoholic beverages as long as it’s not in glass containers.

Vendor Rules for Crab Island in 2024

Besides banning alcohol sales at Crab Island, the other biggest change to affect vendors at Crab Island is the overnight anchoring restriction that went into effect in 2020.

Prior to 2020, vendors could stay anchored at Crab Island all season without having to move their business. The new laws allowed them to stay at Crab Island for the day but required they move to a dock or other legal location every night.

This new law against overnight anchoring made it impossible for some of the larger structures to continue operations. Water World—one of the largest restaurants at Crab Island—ceased operations at this point along with the big water park of inflatables and several others.

The vendors that remained were smaller restaurants and structures and mobile vendors who cruised around the Island offering merchandise and treats.

Aside from no longer allowing overnight anchoring, the City of Destin and the National Park Service put a limit on how many vendors could operate and issued permits to approved vendors. They were also required to pay fees and a percentage of sales.

There are still more changes ahead as the National Park Service has plans to completely eliminate vendors from Crab Island, citing it as “not being necessary or appropriate use of the park.”

The remaining vendors expected to be forced to cease operations in 2020, but Covid slowed things down and they allowed them to continue operations with the current restrictions in place.

The 2021 and 2022 seasons followed suit, with them not yet being able to complete the planning involved to remove all vendor activity.

The 2024 season will continue to operate under the same circumstances, but it could easily be the last year of vendors at Crab Island, so enjoy them while you can!

Restaurants and Vendors at Crab Island

Food and merchandise currently available on Crab Island includes things such as burgers, hot dogs, BBQ, fries, nachos, ice cream, acai bowls, boiled peanuts and more. There’s also t-shirts, hats, swim toys, and other items available for purchase.

Vendors expected to operate in 2024 include Reef Burger, Sea Cow Ice Cream, Crab Island Grill, Rucken Fidiculous BBQ, Jimmy’s Ice Cream, Wild Coconuts, the General Store, and the boiled peanut boat.

Wild Coconuts is a favorite vendor among visitors for their fresh Acai bowls and Instagrammable drinks that are fresh made in real Coconuts and Pineapples.

Crab Island General Store

The Crab Island general store is currently the largest business on Crab Island. They sell snacks, inflatables, flags, masks/snorkels, t-shirts, hats and other essentials such as sunscreen.

The general store at Crab Island is usually happy to fill your inflatables for free if you brought floaty chairs but don’t have an air pump. Just swim up and ask! They also rent paddle boards and other items.

Shore Dash Food Delivery Service

Shore Dash is a food delivery service that started in 2021 and has been a game changer for getting more variety of food at Crab Island. You can think of it like the DoorDash of the water.

They work with nearby local restaurants to pick up your food order and get it out to your boat on Crab Island. So now there is a larger variety of options than the few food vendors at Crab Island.

You can order by phone, online, or even by flagging down the Shore Dash boat and then they deliver to you with the help of GPS tracking.

Shore Dash can get the food out pretty fast by having one person on shore picking up the food while the other one grabs it from the dock and takes it to your boat.

Participating local restaurants include Fatboys, Red Onion Organic, Vinny McGuires Pizza, Destin Seafood Market, and more.

Delivery hours are from 11am-5pm 7 days a week—weather permitting. Here is the website to order or get more information: Shore Dash Crab Island Food Delivery Website

Safety at Crab Island

Here are the best ways to stay safe at Crab Island:

• 🦀Watch out for boaters when swimming
• 🦀Be extra cautious in strong currents
• 🦀Never dive off a boat
• 🦀Stay in the center of Crab Island as opposed to the outer edges
• 🦀Don’t impair your judgement with too much alcohol

Best Tips for Staying Safe at Crab Island

This video from the Okaloosa Island Sheriff Marine Unit has some additional tips regarding safety at Crab Island:

Drownings at Crab Island

Every year there are a handful of drownings at Crab Island, which worry people and make them wonder if it’s safe to go to Crab Island. Ultimately, the number of drownings is small compared to the number of people who visit Crab Island, but they still happen.

Most of the drownings at Crab Island involve alcohol and/or poor decisions. Getting swept away in currents at the edges of Crab Island is the most common drowning incident, so it’s important to stay on the inside and not hang out in the deeper areas.

You can tell by the water color if it’s the shallow area or the deeper water. The steep drop-offs at Crab Island are places where the water goes from shallow to deep quickly. Currents during outgoing tides can be extremely strong and this is the most common place where people would get swept away and drown.

The current is swift even in the shallow areas, so always be aware of it and remember it’s not a swimming pool—even if it looks like one.

There will always be people who throw caution out the window because they are on vacation. As long as you follow the safety recommendations at Crab Island, the risk no higher than swimming at the beach.

Drownings at Crab Island from 2018-2022

I am including the list of Crab Island drownings so you can see some of the most common causes. Sometimes people on social media try to scare visitors off Crab Island acting like drownings happen constantly at Crab Island when they are actually pretty rare overall.

• 🔴 May 26th 2018 – 36 year-old male from Mobile, Alabama went down the slide on a pontoon boat at Crab Island and was found floating a short time later.
• 🔴 July 14th 2018 – 28 year-old man from Dallas, Texas drowned trying to swim to Crab Island from the base of the Destin Marler Bridge.
• 🔴 July 21st 2018 – 18 year-old male from Pensacola, FL drowned at Crab Island after being swept away by strong currents.
• 🔴 July 18th 2019 – 43 year-old man from Austin, Texas drowned after jumping off the boat to anchor in what he thought was shallow water but he could not swim.
• 🔴 June 22nd 2020 – 58 year-old man from New York drowned after jumping off the boat and being swept away in strong current.
• 🔴 September 14th 2021 – 46 year-old man from Indiana drowned trying to swim to the beach from Crab Island to collect shells.
• 🔴 May 29th 2022 – A man drowned on Crab Island after he jumped off a pontoon boat to attempt to repair the rental pontoon boat and he got caught in strong currents.
• 🔴 June 11th 2022 – 21 year-old man from Houston, Texas drowned on Crab Island after experiencing a traumatic injury possibly from falling off the front of a moving boat according to witnesses.

Injuries at Crab Island

Injuries at Crab Island, on the other hand, are a much more common occurrence. Fort Walton Beach Medical Center estimates that about 250 tourists are brought into the Emergency Room every season and almost half of those are from incidents on Crab Island.

The most common injuries on Crab Island are related to diving or jumping off boats into shallow water. These are usually head or leg injuries that result from misjudging the depth of the water.

Other Crab Island injuries include lacerations from hitting anchors and boat propellers when jumping in or near-drownings from strong currents. Many of the incidents are alcohol related.

Other Frequently Asked Questions about Crab Island

In this section I will answer the most frequently asked questions about Crab Island that haven’t been covered yet.

What Hotels and Resorts are closest to Crab Island?

If you want to spend some time at Crab Island while in Destin, you might be wondering where is the closest place to stay. Luckily there are a few great options nearby.

Emerald Grande Resort

Emerald Grande is the closest resort to Crab Island. In fact, you can see Crab Island from the pool deck.

When you stay at Emerald Grande, you can catch one of the many Crab Island taxi tours by just walking right outside to Harborwalk Village. You can also rent a kayak or a pontoon boat from there.

Emerald Grande is a resort with 1, 2, 3 and 4-bedroom condos available. They have panoramic views of Destin Harbor from the pool deck and a boat shuttle to the beach. Here is their website for more information: Emerald Grande at Harborwalk Village website

Inn on Destin Harbor

The closest hotel to Crab Island is the Inn on Destin Harbor, located directly on Destin Harbor, about a mile east of the Destin bridge and Emerald Grande.

The Inn on Destin Harbor is an older hotel, but they have recently renovated the lobby and guest rooms when new owners took over in 2018.

All the guest rooms are hotel room sized with a kitchenette and either a king bed or 2 queens. Half of the rooms face highway 98 and the other half face Destin harbor.

The Inn on Destin Harbor offers boat parking for guests (spots are limited) so this is a great option if you are bringing your boat with you for Crab Island. More information is available here: Inn on Destin Harbor website

Is there a Water Park and Inflatables at Crab Island?

No. There is no longer a water park at Crab Island. The Crab Island Water Park was one of the most popular attractions at Crab Island in years past, but they are no longer there.

The Crab Island Water Park closed permanently after the new vendor laws went into effect in 2021, prohibiting vendors from anchoring overnight. The Crab Island water park was a complex structure which took 2 days and 4 employees to set up, so it wasn’t possible for them to continue operations under the new regulations.

I mention the water park here because it remains one of the most common Crab Island questions I hear and many families go still expecting to find it there (mostly because of outdated information online) only to be disappointed.

There is a Crab Island boat tour company offering a much smaller water park for guests on the first stop of their Crab Island excursion. They set up the inflatable water obstacle course and take it down each day. It has a trampoline, slide and some other features.

This smaller water park obstacle course is not located in the main area of Crab Island but nearby at the grass flats area. After playing and snorkeling in that area, their next stop is the main part of Crab Island.

I have not done this tour, but they are a reputable company and it seems like a good alternative for the kids. Here is the info if you want to check it out: Crab Island Adventure Tour with Inflatable Water Park

Is Crab Island Appropriate for Kids?

Yes, most people think Crab Island is appropriate for children. This used to be questionable back when it was party central, but things have changed a lot in recent years.

If you are concerned about having a family-friendly atmosphere at Crab Island, go on a weekday instead of the weekend. Also plan to go in the morning rather than the afternoon when there will be more people drinking and partying.

What Events are at Crab Island?

Crab Island used to be full of events, such as festivals and live music concerts, but those days are gone now since the vendor and alcohol law changes. There’s still a few events left at Crab Island you might enjoy though.

Shark Movie Night

Emerald Coast Marine partners with Splashboards Media for this unique event at Crab Island in Destin featuring a different shark themed movie each year displayed on a 30-foot screen on the water.

They play the movie on surround sound speakers, but you can also tune in through a designated radio station.

People usually arrive by boat for this event since it’s at night, but there are a few who arrive by kayak and paddle board. If you go by kayak or paddle board, make sure you are an experienced paddler, have a life vest, whistle, and are well lit so other boats see you.

The Destin Paddle Club usually plans a group outing for this event if you want a group to go with. Here is their Facebook Group to watch for events: Destin Paddle Club Facebook

If you want to see more pictures and read more about shark movie night at Crab Island and stay updated on the 2023 event, check out this post I wrote: Shark Movie Night at Crab Island

Church Service at Crab Island

Shoreline Church partners with the Splashboards media boat to live stream their Sunday service to boaters at Crab Island on a 30-foot screen on the water every Sunday morning at 10am from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Shoreline started church service at Crab Island in 2020 when Covid hit and people could not attend church in person. They ended up keeping it going in the following years since it was so popular.

Visitors and locals have different opinions about church service at Crab Island. Some love it and some not so much. The critics usually site that it’s an inappropriate venue for church service. It’s on Sunday mornings at 10am though, so it’s hardly the busiest time at Crab Island.

Just like everything else at Crab Island, if you don’t like what you are seeing around you, just move to a different spot. Here’s some more information if you want to check it out: Church Service at Crab Island by Shoreline Church in Destin

Is there a Crab Island Live Web Cam?

If you’re looking for a Crab Island webcam, the closest one I know of is the Emerald Grande Resort live camera. It is on the other side of the Destin bridge, but it gives you enough of a glimpse to sort of see how crowded it is and even how the water color is looking.

The second camera down on this Emerald Grande Resort webcam page is the one I look at to see a glimpse of Crab Island:

If you want to see my other favorite Destin live beach cams for seeing the best live views of Okaloosa Island, Holiday Isle, Henderson Beach, Miramar Beach and Sandestin, check out my post here: 5 Destin Beach Cameras with the Best Water Views

Are there Sharks at Crab Island?

Yes, there are sharks in every open body of water in Florida and everywhere else. It’s not a regular occurrence to spot them at Crab Island, but it definitely happens.

Most sharks are harmless to humans, and shark attacks are extremely rare. There has never been a shark attack at Crab Island, so I wouldn’t put this at the top of your list of concerns.

Are there Jellyfish at Crab Island?

Just like sharks, there are jellyfish in every open body of water. It’s more typical to run into them at Crab Island during August and September when water temperatures are at their peak. Late summer and early fall are also when you see more of them at the beach in the Gulf of Mexico.

Can you find Shells at Crab Island?

You might find some shells around Crab Island but I wouldn’t count on it. It’s better to look for shells at the beach along the shoreline.

How to get the Clearest Water at Crab Island by using Tide Charts

If you have made it this far, you are pretty much a Crab Island expert. Now we can move on to the most important thing for most people, which is getting the clearest water on your Crab Island visit.

This section will explain when the water is clearest at Crab Island and why, what the exceptions are, other factors that affect the water clarity, and what time ranges around high tide to plan your visit.

There are several factors that influence the water color at Crab Island, but mainly the tide times.

At the end of this section, I provide easy-to-read tide charts for March through October of 2024 in PDF format that you can save or print.

Common advice is to go in the window of 2 hours before and after high tide to get clear water. That is good starting advice, but there’s a lot more to it.

After reading this section, you will understand when to plan your Crab Island visit based on the tide times in conjunction with the weather forecast and surf reports.

I know this high and low tide stuff can seem confusing if it’s your first time hearing it but the graphic I created below should help you make sense of this information as you read.

The water is clearest at Crab Island at high tide when the water from the Gulf of Mexico fills the sandbar with clear water. The murkiest time of day is at low tide when Crab Island fills from the other direction with water from Choctawhatchee Bay.

During low tide, the water at Crab Island will almost always be more brownish (or tea colored, as some prefer to say) even though the reverse is not always true. The water will not always be clear and blue at high tide, but it will be the clearest it’s going to get that day.

How Often is the Water Clear at Crab Island?

How often you have clear blue water days at Crab Island varies by the time of year. In the summer, when most people go, it seems to be around 70% or so of days when the water is a color you would proudly post on Instagram.

In the months of October through February, the number of clear blue water days at Crab Island is closer to maybe 10-20%. This is because the high tides mostly fall during the night that time of year instead of during the day.

It might surprise you to hear there are so many murky water days at Crab Island since most of the pictures show everyone enjoying the clear blue water.

There are not a lot of pictures circulating around of the brown water at Crab Island because no one likes to post or advertise those.

I hear many people say that Crab Island is just as fun regardless of the water color so people shouldn’t worry about it so much. I can’t relate to that statement.

I would rather be at the beach any day than wading around in tea colored bay water at Crab Island. There’s nothing wrong with bay water, but it’s just not that crystal clear shimmering blue color you were probably envisioning when you planned your visit.

It saddens me to think of people seeing pictures of sparkling clear water at Crab Island and getting excited about it, but then arriving to something different and not knowing why.

Most times, these visitors could have changed their Crab Island day by even a day or two to get the clear water if they had only known that it’s mostly predictable with a bit of information and planning.

And sure, of course, you will still have fun if the water is murky. You are on a boat, on the water, in Florida. However, if you have several days to choose from as your Crab Island day, you might as well choose the one with the highest probability of clear water.

Other Factors Affecting the Water Color

The reason the water won’t always be clear at high tide is because there are a lot of other factors that affect the water color at Crab Island. Arriving around high tide is your best chance of getting clear water at Crab Island that day, but it is still not a guarantee.

The color of the gulf water, stormy weather, the height of the high tide and the time of the previous and next low tide are all factors. The clear water at Crab Island comes in from the Gulf of Mexico, so if that water is murky for whatever reason, then Crab Island might be too.

Luckily, the water in the Gulf of Mexico is usually pretty clear, but not always. Reasons for murky water in the Gulf of Mexico are things like storms, rough surf, or even heavy seaweed. Several days in a row of double red flags can churn up the water, which can affect water clarity at Crab Island.

Another factor is that some tides don’t come in as high as others, making the window shorter. Or sometimes the outgoing water from the bay is clearer than other days, making the window last longer.

Something else to keep in mind is that the water will have the most clarity and sparkle when the sun is directly overhead and reflecting off the white sand beneath. This is also true for the Gulf of Mexico, which is why the water typically looks more clear at noon than early in the morning.

So it’s best to go around the high tide mark, but especially on days when the high tide falls during the sunniest part of the day. So, for example, water clarity will be better for a 1pm high tide on a sunny day than a 10am high tide.

The point of learning all this is to make sure that you plan your time in Destin wisely. Studying the tide charts, the surf report, and the weather forecast will help you decide what days to go to the beach, what days to go to Crab Island, and what days to plan other activities.

Best Days to go to Crab Island

As discussed above, the best days to go to Crab Island are generally when the high tide falls between 11:00am and 4:00pm since this is within the window of time where most people would get a boat rental and when the sun is overhead.

Even on these days, you still need to know the exact high tide time that day to know if you should plan a morning or afternoon trip since the water will probably not be clear all day.

If high tide is at 11:00am, the water could start turning color at noon or even sooner, so still only pick that day if you are a morning person. If you prefer to go in the afternoon, choose a day with a later high tide time.

The height of the tide is indicated in the “ft” column to the right of the high tide time on the charts I provided at the end of this post. For example, 0.2 ft is one of the lower high tides, so the water won’t come in as high before changing direction and heading back out. This could mean less clear water or a smaller window of it.

Still, I would take a chance on that lowish high tide day if it’s the best day for you to go. It could easily be a good day.

Avoid days with two high tides as a general rule. I have never seen clear water at Crab Island when there are two hide tides that day. It’s for the same reason of the water not coming in high enough before turning back to the gulf.

Worst Days to go to Crab Island

It’s best to not plan your Crab Island visit on a day when the high tide falls in the middle of the night, late in the evening, super early in the morning, or on a rare day with two high tides.

On those days there’s not much chance of a clear water day, although it could happen if the bay water is having a rare clear day or the outgoing tide doesn’t go out as far.

Best Time Range around High Tide for Clear Water at Crab Island

As far as what time range to go around high tide, most people say 2 hours before and 2 hours after high tide are the clearest. That’s true in situations when the high tide and low tide times are spaced equally apart (high tide around 3pm and low tide around 3am, for example), but often that’s often not the case.

When the high tide is at 1pm and then low tide follows at say, 7pm, you are going to see that bay water rush in quicker after 1pm then in the former example where they are 12 hours apart.

Still, 2 hours before and after high tide is a good rule of thumb for simplicity and because most of the best days have low and high tides spaced pretty much equally apart, especially in summer.

If you want to get super detailed like I do, then you can arrange your time frame at Crab Island based on which direction the timing of high and low tide is skewed.

But if you are just trying to have a fun day of boating without a bunch of math and research and the perfecting of every detail, then it’s fine to go with the “2 hours before and after high tide” rule.

If you need to alter the time frame at all, I would recommend skewing it to be earlier than the high tide time rather than later. For example, I would go 3 hours before high tide to 1 hour after if I were to alter it, since the water is usually clearest on the incoming tide.

So if you are going to Crab Island for four hours on a day with a 2pm high tide, I would either go noon-4pm or 11am-3pm or even 10am-2pm before choosing a time frame like 1pm-5pm.

If you have specific questions about any of this material or need help with your personal Crab Island planning decisions, ask me in a comment below. I would rather answer questions here in this post so it’s helpful to everyone. I will answer every question in detail that is asked in the comments of this post.

I hope you are feeling confident now in planning the best day at Crab Island with the highest chance of clear water. Now you just need the tide charts for the time you plan to visit. I have included the 2023 season charts below.

Crab Island Tide Charts for 2024

In this section, I’ve provided tide charts for March through October 2024 that you can download and print to assist with planning your visit.

I did not include calendars for November through February because most people would not go to Crab Island during that time. The water is too cold to swim, the boat rental places are mostly closed for the season, and the high tide rarely falls during the daytime in those months.

Please remember that tide charts are only a tool to make the best prediction of water color at Crab Island.

There is no way to guarantee the water color, but using these charts with my tips will give you the best chance of success. All you can do is take your best guess based on the data and the rest is up to Mother Nature!

High Tide Times for Crab Island in March 2024

The water at Crab Island in March is a bit chilly for swimming but some people will still be out there enjoying it.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for March 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in April 2024

The water at Crab Island in April is still chilly but warming up and can be very enjoyable on a hot day.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for April 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in May 2024

The water at Crab Island in May is usually reaching nice comfortable temperatures for swimming. By Memorial Day the vendors and tour companies will be fully operating on daily schedules.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for May 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in June 2024

June usually has the most clear water days of any month at Crab Island. The water is the perfect temperature and summer is officially here.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for June 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in July 2024

July is very similar to June at Crab Island. Expect July 4th to be one of the busiest days of the year here.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for July 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in August 2024

The water will warm up even more in August. Vendors and boat traffic will stay busy in the first half of the month but start to taper off as kids go back to school in mid-August.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for August 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in September 2024

September will continue with some of the warmest water of the year but there are very few clear water days this month. The vendors will be mostly closing up for the season with the exception of some being out there Labor Day weekend.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for September 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

High Tide Times for Crab Island in October 2024

October will be pretty quiet at Crab Island but the weather and water are still warm so some people will still get out there and enjoy it.

Below is the Crab Island/East Pass Tide Chart for October 2024, courtesy of the US Harbors website. Click to open it as a printable PDF.

I hope this post helps you plan the perfect Crab Island visit in 2024!

Be sure to comment below if you have any questions or feedback. I love hearing from you and prefer to answer questions on here so my answers can help others as well. Don’t forget to subscribe to my email list so you don’t miss any posts!

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